In the quiet valleys of Himachal Pradesh stands a temple where an extraordinary event is said to take place every 12 years: the Shivling inside breaks into pieces. Even more astonishing is the way it is restored.

This is the Bijli Mahadev Temple, perched on the high hills of Kullu, surrounded by deodar forests and crisp mountain air.

According to local belief, lightning strikes the Shivling once every 12 years. Residents say this is not a random occurrence but a divine act of Lord Shiva, who is believed to absorb the force of the lightning to shield the world from future calamities.

When the strike occurs, the Shivling shatters with a thunderous sound, becoming part of the temple’s long-standing tradition.

In the days that follow, priests and villagers collect every fragment and me

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