Maha Shivaratri is celebrated throughout the country with great
devotion and faith. Shivratri falls on the I3th (or I4th) day of the
dark half of 'Phalgun' (February-March). The name means "the night
of Shiva". The ceremonies take place chiefly at night. This is a
festival observed in honor of Lord Shiva and it is believed that on this
day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati. On this festival people worship
'Shiva - the Destroyer'. This night marks the night when Lord Shiva
danced the 'Tandav'. It is celebrated in different manner across the
country. This festival of Maha Shivratri is held in great esteem in most
of the regions in India but especially in Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh it is
observed with great reverence. In Ujjain in the famous temple of
Mahakaleshwar Shiv's Lingum is worshipped with the performance of all
the religious rites and rituals. Even in Matangeshwar at Khajuraho Lord
Shiva is worshipped. Grand puja is offered in both the temples and
hundreds of devotees throng these places from all over India. The
Shivalingam of Matangeshwar in Khajuraho is considered to be the biggest
in India and is the only temple in the thousand-year-old Khajuraho
temple complex where worship still continues.
In Andhra Pradesh, pilgrims throng the Sri Kalahasteshwara Temple at
Kalahasti and the Bharamarambha Malikarjunaswamy Temple at Srisailam.
Saivism has been followed since ancient times in Andhra Pradesh. In
Kashmir, since the majority of Kashmiri Pandits are followers of Shiv,
this Mahashivratri festival is observed for fifteen continuous days. The
13th day of this festival is called Herath, which is celebrated with
remarkable zest and joy. The Kashmiris belive that the marriage of Shiv
and Parvati was celebrated on the day of Herath. In West Bengal
Shivratri has become almost a folk festival. Young unmarried girls
observe day-long fast, keep awake the whole night, sing devotional songs
and pray to Lord Shiva to give them good and virtuous husbands. In
Allahabad in Uttar Pradesh devotees of Shiv take holy bath at Sangam -
the confluence of the three sacred rivers - Ganga, Jamuna and Saraswati-
with faith that all their sins in the past and present be washed away so
that they can go to heaven after death. Magh Mela fair is also held in
Allahabad. In Maharashtra on this day of Shivratri every temple of Lord
Shiv resounds with Vedic mantras and shlokas. People observe a fast,
keep awake at night and distribute alms, food and sweets amongst the
poor. In Karnataka majority of Lingayats, who are followers of the
Lingayat cult of Lord Shiva, belong to Karnataka. Shivaratri is a major
festival in the state. In assam also it is celebrated with great
devotion and faith the great Shiva temple, Umananda Temple, situated on
the peacock island in the middle of Brahmaputra near Guwahati, attracts
devotees from all over the country during the Shivaratri celebrations.
Even in countries like Nepal and Mauritius Shivaratri is an important
festival. The famous Shiva temple of Pashupatinath receives thousands of
devotees from places around the globe. Hindus in Maurritius make a
pilgrimage to the holy volcanic lake, Grand Bassin, in honour of Lord
Shiva.
