Baidyanath Temple's Unique Basant Panchami Tradition: Baba's Tilkotsav Since Treta Yuga

• Basant Panchami, celebrated on January 23rd, marks the manifestation of Goddess Saraswati and is observed with her worship nationwide.
• In Deoghar, Jharkhand, Baidyanath Temple celebrates Baba's Tilkotsav (engagement ceremony) on Basant Panchami, a tradition believed to date back to the Treta Yuga.
• This Tilkotsav is the first ritual of Lord Shiva's wedding, where people from Mithilanchal, representing Goddess Parvati's side, bring offerings.
• Special offerings include bel leaves, flowers, sesame seeds, sweets, paddy stalks, ladoos, ghee, and red gulal.
• Baidyanath Temple, a Jyotirlinga and a 'Manokamna Shivling', is also considered the meeting place of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati due to the mythological event of Sati's heart falling here.

Why It Matters: Baidyanath Temple observes a unique Tilkotsav tradition on Basant Panchami, symbolizing Lord Shiva's engagement since the Treta Yuga.