Gaiety and devotion filled the air as Bhopal celebrated Makar Sankranti on Tuesday, with vibrant kite festivals, temple rituals, and holy dips, drawing thousands to mark the auspicious occasion with fervour and joy.
At the Maa Bhavani Shiv Hanuman Temple in Subhash Colony, special offerings of khichdi were made to the deity under the joint aegis of the Human Rights Protection Organisation and the temple committee. The prasad was then distributed among devotees.
At LNCT University, a kite festival was organised where students and faculty enthusiastically participated. At Dadaji Dham Temple, rituals like Rudrabhishek, worship, havan, and aarti were performed for Lord Shiva. Later in the afternoon, a grand feast was organised, where thousands of devotees relished bharta, bafla, dal, and sesame ladoos as prasad.
At the famous Bhojpur Shiv Temple, the massive Shivling was adorned with flowers and kites. Thousands of devotees gathered to seek blessings, with over 150 police personnel deployed to ensure security.
On the occasion of Makar Sankranti, Congress MLA Arif Masood from Bhopal Central was seen flying a blue kite with "Jai Bhim, Jai Bapu, Jai Samvidhan" written on it. He highlighted that this symbolised equal love and respect for both the Constitution and religion.
Devotees from Bhopal travelled to Raisen, Sehore, and Narmadapuram for the auspicious Makar Sankranti holy dip in the Narmada River. Significant crowds were seen at Sethani Ghat, Vivekananda Ghat, and Anwali Ghat. Raisen district’s Narmada Ghats in Udaipura, Bareli, and Deori also saw thousands performing rituals and offering charity.
Despite the biting cold, devotees began taking their holy dip as early as 4:30 am, chanting "Har Har Narmade." Sethani Ghat witnessed the highest footfall, with strict security arrangements in place. Police and Home Guard personnel were deployed to ensure smooth management.
Comprehensive security measures were undertaken at the Narmada bathing sites. Police force and Home Guards were stationed at Sethani Ghat, Vivekananda Ghat, and Anwali Ghat. Additional Superintendent of Police Kamlesh Kumar Kharpuse inspected the arrangements after visiting the Bhojpur temple.
A fair was organised along the banks of the Betwa River near Bhopal and Vidisha Road, where villagers enjoyed rides and snacks. Robust security ensured that devotees could celebrate the festival without any hindrance.