Celebrated on the fourth day of the Phalguna month of Hindu calendar, the festival of Mahashivaratri is celebrated to commemorate the marriage of Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati. Observed with great zeal and devotion throughout India, the festival of Shivaratri holds great significance in Hindu culture. Devotees observe fast and perform traditional pujas on this day in reverence of Lord Shiva, as per the rituals mentioned in the 'Shiva Purana', on this day married women perform pujas and pray for a long life and wellbeing of their husbands, and the unmarried girls all throughout the country observe fast and pray to Lord Shiva for an ideal husband. The festivities and jubilations on this day can be witnessed all across the country and Hindus make pilgrimages to many revered shrines of lord Shiva around the country to seek his blessings.
Situated in Ujjain, the Mahakaleshwar Temple, which is considered to be one of the most revered shrines of Shiva, attracts innumerable devotes from all over India. The Shiva devotees visit this shrine every year and offer their prayers to the lord on the day of Shivaratri. At Tarakeshwar temple in Kolkata, bare-footed pilgrims carry containers of Ganga water from nearby regions, to pour over the stone image of the Lord and decorate the holy Shiva-lingam with garlands of flowers, as a mark of their devotion. In Andhra Pradesh, at the Sri Kalahasteshwara Temple, Kalahasti and the Bharamarambha Malikarjunaswamy Temple, Srisailam people turn up every year in huge numbers to offer their prayers to the highly revered Hindu deity. As it is believed to be auspicious to stay awake on this day, people perform music and dance and chant Shiva hymn all along the night to impress the lord. In Rajasthan, the festivities and rejoicings on this auspicious day is remarkable. A fair is held at Dabeshwarji in Jaipur which is visited by large number of tourists and devotees from all around the globe. As per the traditions, the devotees of Lord Shiva take a dip in the nearby river at dawn and visit the surrounding temples of Lord Shiva and perform pujas with bilva leaves, as per the rituals.
Legends of Shiva
Lord Shiva is one of the gods of the Hindu Trinity, comprising of Lord Brahma, the creator, Lord Vishnu, the preserver and Lord Shiva or Mahesh, the Destroyer and Re-Producer of life. God Shiva is known by several names each of which related to a particular legend. For instance, for his third eye on his forehead
Maha Shivaratri in India
The festival of Mahashivaratri is celebrated with great pomp and enthusiasm all over the country. Falling on the 13th or the 14th day of the dark half of Hindu month of 'Falgun' which corresponds to the period between February & March, this festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva. Commemorating the marriage of Lord Shiva
Maha Shivaratri Rituals
The festival of Mahashivaratri bears immense significance in Hindu culture and is celebrated with remarkable vigor and devotion all across the country. Observed to commemorate the matrimony between to two Hindu deities Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati, on this day hordes of devotees visit temples and offer ritualistic bath to lord Shiva.