On the auspicious occasion of Nag Panchami, the Nagchandreshwar Temple, located on the 3rd floor of the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, was opened to devotees on Sunday midnight (August 16–17). The temple houses an idol depicting Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvati, Lord Ganesha, and Lord Kartikeya seated upon a multi-hooded serpent. 1082
This year, Nag Panchami coincides with the third Monday of the holy Shravan month, creating a rare spiritual confluence. The temple doors opened at midnight on August 16 and will remain open for 24 hours, closing at midnight on August 17. A large number of devotees attended the ‘Bhasma Aarti’ at the Nagchandreshwar Temple on Nag Panchami. 1083
Ujjain Collector Roshan Kumar Singh appealed to devotees to follow the arrangements made by the administration. Special security and darshan arrangements have been made considering the heavy crowd. The Sri Mahakaleshwar Temple gates opened at 2:30 am, followed by the special Bhasma Aarti of Baba Mahakal at 3 am. 1084
Before the temple gates opened, from 11:30 pm to midnight on August 16, the Mahant of Panchayati Mahanirvani Akhada performed the first puja of Lord Nagchandreshwar. At 12 noon on August 17, government puja will be performed, and during the evening aarti, the temple priests will perform the worship. After the evening aarti of Lord Mahakal at 7:30 pm, the temple priests will perform the puja-archana of Lord Nagchandreshwar. Thereafter, at midnight, the Mahanirvani Akhada will perform the puja and close the temple gates. 1085
Nearly 10 lakh devotees are expected to visit Ujjain for the Nag Panchami darshan and the third Sawan Somvar. The temple administration has appealed to devotees to book quick darshan only through the official website and not through any agents. Online booking for Nagchandreshwar darshan has been made available on the Mahakal temple website. 1082
The Nagchandreshwar Temple is one of the most sacred shrines in Ujjain and opens only once a year for 24 hours on Nag Panchami. It is believed that the deity is a form of Lord Shiva combined with the serpent god, and worshipping here on Nag Panchami brings special blessings and protection from snake-related fears. 1087
For Ujjain’s Nagchandreshwar Temple, the 24-hour opening on Nag Panchami is not just a ritual but a rare spiritual window, where lakhs of devotees converge to seek the blessings of the serpent deity, believing that a single darshan on this sacred day can protect them for an entire year.
