25th December 2025 – The Day I Was Waiting For
25th December 2025 was the day I had been waiting for the most on this trip. Ever since I planned this journey, experiencing the Bhasm Aarti at Mahakaleshwar Temple had been at the center of my heart. There was a quiet excitement inside me as I woke up that morning—tired from the previous day, yet deeply aware that something special awaited me.
Midnight Journey to Mahakaleshwar Temple
We woke up at 11:30 PM on 24th December and got ready to leave for the temple at 12:00 AM. We stood in the line outside Mahakaleshwar Temple for almost one hour, feeling extremely sleepy. Still, the excitement of witnessing the Bhasm Aarti kept me going, even in the cold 12-degree weather. I was shivering despite wearing two jackets.
Around 2:00 AM, I noticed a coffee shop opening nearby. I almost ran to grab a cup of coffee—something to give me warmth and keep me from feeling hungry until the darshan was complete. That cup of coffee felt like a small blessing at that moment.
After that, we were made to sit in a line for more than one and a half hours. Surprisingly, I didn’t feel frustrated or angry. Instead, I felt a deep sense of
gratitude. Watching people around me patiently waiting for a glimpse of Mahakal felt incredibly divine. I felt truly fortunate to be there, waiting for the Bhasm Aarti.
Waiting, Patience, and the First Glimpse of Mahakal
We then moved closer to the temple and stood in another line for 45 minutes. The closer I got, the more excited I felt. Finally, the moment I had been waiting for over so many years arrived.
We entered the hall at 4:45 AM. From 12:45 AM to 4:45 AM, we had waited patiently for four hours to finally get a glimpse of Shiv as Mahakal.
As I entered, I was shocked to see the sheer number of people who had gathered to witness the Bhasm Aarti. The hall was completely full, and many of us—including me—couldn’t sit properly. Everyone wanted a place in front of the Shivling, but that’s simply not possible with so many devotees present.
There were screens placed everywhere to watch the rituals, but everyone wanted to see the Shivling with their own eyes. We were seated in the middle, watching Shiv on the big screen.
The Bhasm Aarti Experience
The rituals began with Abhishekam, followed by Shiv being adorned, and then came the moment of the Bhasm Aarti.
Women are not allowed to directly witness the Bhasm Aarti, so we were asked to cover our faces with a dupatta or saree and close our eyes until we were told to open them. Even without seeing it, the sound of the damru during the Bhasm Aarti gave me goosebumps. That sound alone carried so much power.
I felt incredibly fortunate to sit there and watch my Shiv for one full hour. I don’t think I could ever see him like this during a normal darshan. During the
Bhasm Aarti, you get to see him so closely, and that one hour felt like just ten minutes.
I couldn’t believe I was there, watching him for so long, and still wanting to stay a little longer. I completely lost myself in that moment.
Every time I visit Shiv, he makes me wait—and every time, he teaches me patience. The same thing happened in Kedarnath. But the wait always feels worth it once I get to see him. I always tear up when I see Shiv, and I can confidently say that this is one of the most beautiful memories that will always stay in my heart.
Breakfast, Kal Bhairav & Completing Ujjain Darshan
We came out of the temple around 6:30 AM. By then, we were extremely hungry, so we went for breakfast and had poha. Our driver hadn’t arrived yet, and seeing an uncle making hot parathas, we couldn’t resist. We ended up having parathas as well, which felt so comforting after being awake the entire night.
Once our driver arrived, we headed to Kal Bhairav Temple, one of the most important temples to visit in Ujjain. We were surprised to see devotees offering alcohol to Kal Bhairav—something I had never seen or heard of before. The temple experience felt unique and different from anything I had witnessed earlier.
Before leaving, we also bought a few Ujjain fridge magnets from nearby shops—small souvenirs to take back memories of this trip with us. We completed our darshan in about 15 minutes.
After that, we visited Mahakali Temple, one of the 18 Maha Shakti Peethas. The temple was relatively free, and we completed our darshan in just 10 minutes.
With this, all the temples on our Ujjain list were completed. We felt a strong sense of fulfillment and happiness, knowing that we had successfully completed our Ujjain journey.
A Sweet Celebration & Leaving Ujjain
Our driver suggested trying jalebi from a famous sweet shop in Ujjain called Shri Ganga. We decided to celebrate our small win and stopped there. We had jalebi and a pineapple sweet—both were absolutely delicious.
After that, we returned to the hotel for a short one-hour nap, got ready, and prepared to leave Ujjain with countless memories.
Journey to Omkareshwar & First Impressions
We started from Ujjain at 12:30 PM and took a pit stop on the way, where we had rasmalai. By now, you might have figured out that I have a serious sweet tooth.
We reached Omkareshwar Temple by 6:00 PM. The first glimpse of the Narmada River as you enter Omkareshwar instantly brings a feeling of calm and stillness. We also got to witness a beautiful sunset.
Because it was a long weekend, there was heavy traffic. We had special darshan between 6:00 and 8:00 PM, so we rushed to the temple as soon as we reached the hotel. Since boat rides are closed in the evening, we crossed the river on foot to reach the main temple and arrived around 7:15 PM.
As it was special darshan, we completed it in about 20 minutes. However, I couldn’t see Shiv the way I had seen him in Ujjain. Even with special darshan, there was pushing, and I could only see him for a few seconds—but I was still grateful.
Mamleshwar Temple & The End of a Long Day
We then visited Mamleshwar Temple, located on the other side of the river and also an important temple in Omkareshwar. There was a long queue, and we completed our darshan in about 45 minutes.
After dinner on the way, we reached our hotel by 9:30 PM. We hadn’t slept the previous night, had visited two Jyotirlingas in one day, and had also dealt with traffic—but every bit of exhaustion felt worth it.
Ujjain vs Omkareshwar – A Difference in Energy
Ujjain and Omkareshwar felt completely different to me.
Ujjain felt energetic and lively—I could feel that vibration in the city and in the people. Omkareshwar, on the other hand, felt calm and peaceful.
Even when surrounded by thousands of people, it didn’t feel chaotic.
I couldn’t witness Omkareshwar during the daytime. Maybe next time, I’ll experience the town in daylight and see a different side of it.
A Journey That Still Continues
By the time we reached the hotel, we were more than ready to get into bed and finally have some sound sleep before starting our journey again the next day.
Despite the exhaustion, the long waits, the cold night, and the travel, this day felt deeply fulfilling. Visiting these sacred places, feeling the energy of the
divine, and witnessing Shiv in such a powerful form made me feel truly fortunate. Days like this remind you why the journey is worth every bit of effort.
Our trip didn’t end here. The next few days took us to Maheshwar and Indore, where the pace slowed down and the experiences felt very different. I’ll be sharing those moments in the upcoming blogs.
If you haven’t read the first part of this journey yet, you can start with Ujjain Diaries – Part 1, where I’ve shared our arrival in Ujjain, temple visits, and
first impressions of the city. Together, these posts complete the story of our Ujjain experience.