This year Maha Shivratri is being celebrated with religious ferver and enthusiasm across the country on Monday 23rd Feb 2009.
In Uttar Pradesh, large numbers of pilgrims reach at Allahabad to take holy dip at Sangam the confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati.
Thousands of devotees take holy dip on this occasion. With the bathing of Mahashivratri, more than one month long Magh Mela, largest Hindu congregation of the world is officially concluded.
At several places including Allahabad, Ujjain, Varanasi, Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Mathura and Naimisharanya temples and places of worships are decorated nicely with flowers and lights.
In Gujarat, the State’s largest and traditional folk fair of Maha Shivratri go in its peek in the foot hills of mount Girnar near Junagarh. A procession of Naga Babas is taken out in the foot-hills of mount Girnar at mid night tonight.
In Madhya Pradesh, the festival of Mahashivratri is being celebrated with religious fervor through out the state. The state is home to two Jyotirlingas, Mahakaleshwar and Onkareshwar.
People observe strict fast on this day and stay awake throughout the night. Thousands of devotees will be visiting the temple of lord Shiva to take the blessings.
Long queues can be seen outside the famous temples of Babulnath and Ambernath in Mumbai.
Thousands of devotees visit the holy cave at Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district of Jammu. Shiv Khori is the third holy shrine revered by large number of pilgrims after Shri Amarnathji and Mata Vaishno Devi shrines. The three-day Mela is organized by State Tourism Department, in collaboration with Shiv Khori Shrine Board.
Elaborate arrangements are made by the administration to facilitate the yatris during the Mela days.
Legend associated with Shivaratri
According to Hindu mythology, Shivaratri or ‘Shiva’s Great Night’ symbolizes the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Many however, believe, Shivaratri is the night when Lord Shiva performed the Tandava Nritya – the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. Celebrating the festival in a customary manner, devotees give a ritual bath to the Lingam with the panchagavya – milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung. Celebrations of Shivaratri Festival mainly take place at night. Devotees of Lord Shiva throng Shiva temples across the country and spend ‘the Night of Lord Shiva’ by chanting verses and hymns in praise of the Lord. The festival holds special meaning for the ladies. They pray to Goddess Parvati also called ‘Gaura’, the giver of ‘suhag’ for good husbands, marital bliss and a long and prosperous married life.
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