SUMAN K SHRIVASTAVA   Every year, as the festival of Basant Panchami approaches, the temple town of Deoghar in Jharkhand prepares for a unique and colourful tradition that binds faith, folklore, and festivity. Known as the Tilak ceremony of Lord Shiva (Mahadev), this pre-marriage ritual is performed a few days before Maha Shivratri, symbolising the … Continue reading Tilak of Baba Baidyanath: Mithila’s sacred bond and ritual of sacrifice