Varanasi, Feb. 13 -- As the festival of Mahashivratri approaches, the religious and spiritual city of Kashi is beginning to be colored with the colors of Mahadev.
The formal beginning of the Shiva Vivah rituals begin on Friday with the offering of auspicious turmeric to Baba Vishwanath.
The traditional turmeric procession departed from Shri Mahant Lingiya Maharaj's residence, 'Shri Yantra Peetham' (Shri Dharma Niwas), located at Bansfatak, to the Mahant's residence in Tedhinim, where the turmeric will be ritually offered to Baba's Panchbadan movable idol.
Mahant Avshesh Pandey of the Sheetla Temple explained that according to the ancient folk tradition of Kashi, auspicious turmeric is offered to Baba before the Shiva Vivah. This year, th...