Maha Shivratri that literally means the ‘Night of Lord Shiva’ is a prominent Hindu festival celebrated with enormous zeal and enthusiasm in various parts of the country. The festival is usually celebrated on the month of Phalguna or Maagh (February or March) consistent with the Hindu calendar . On this auspicious day, people in large numbers, throng to temples and offer prayers to please the Lord. It’s also believed that the Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati married on today . many of us also observe a quick on today and offer sweets, flowers, milk and bael leaves on Shiva Linga.

What are Rituals and History behind the Celebration of Maha Shivratri Festival

There are many stories attributed to the celebration of Maha Shivratri festival, but the favored one is when the Lord Shiva, saved the planet from destruction by drinking the poison. consistent with the Puranas, once the Gods and demons decided to churn the ocean and distribute the items among themselves that emerged from it. When the ocean was churned (Samudra Manthan), a pot filled with poison that would have destroyed the world emerged. The Gods sought the assistance of Lord Shiva to guard the planet . to save lots of the mankind, Lord Shiva swallowed the poison. The poison was so deadly that the throat of the Lord turned blue, since then he’s also popularly known by the name ‘Nilkantha’.

Maha Shivratri Celebrations

On the day of Shivratri, people keep fast, sing devotional songs and recite his popular tales. The temples are beautifully decorated with lights and flowers. People believe that fasting on this auspicious day will bring good luck and prosperity into their lives. The roar of the devotees shouting ‘Shivji ki Jai’ and ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ turn the entire atmosphere truly pious and non secular .

Shivratri is a crucial festival for the Hindu women also.Many married and unmarried women worship Goddess Parvati who is additionally known by the name ‘Gaura’ for the blissful married life or to urge good husbands. One can therefore see tons of girls performing all the rituals of the festival religiously seeking the blessing of the Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati for the peaceful and happy life.

One of the most aspects of the festival is smoking marijuana because the devotees believe that the Lord Shiva considerably love it . there’s also a practice of drinking Thandai (kind of drink prepared from bhang and milk).

Maha Shivratri Celebrations in Various Parts of India

Maha Shivratri in Madhya Pradesh

The festival is widely known with extreme enthusiasm within the state of Madhya Pradesh. It’s considered as an age-old tradition to require a holy bath within the Shiv Sagar Tank nestled in Khajuraho. there’s a gorgeous Shiva temple near the tank where the people worship the Lord. within the Bundelkhand region of the state, people in large numbers visit Matangeshwar Temple to pay homage to the almighty. one among the most highlights of the temple is that here the celebrations of the festival are administered for 10 days.

Maha Shivratri in West Bengal

On the day of Shivratri, devotees of the Lord Shiva observe fast all day. People follow the tradition of creating the four idols of the Lord with the assistance of sand bought from the pious Ganga River. The Shivlings are then worshipped in four different period of your time . within the first time, one among the Shivlings is bathed with milk, within the second time, the Shivling is immersed with curd, within the third time, the ling is bathed with ghee and fourth with honey. Next day, within the morning, the devotees, pray to the Lord, feed food to the Brahmin people and break their fast.

Maha Shivratri in Jammu & Kashmir

In the state of Jammu and Kashmir, the Maha Shivratri festival is widely known for the amount of three weeks or 21 days. People celebrate the festival during a very unique manner. Two pots signifying Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati are crammed with water and walnuts. On the third day, the walnuts are taken out from the pot and distributed among the relations within the sort of ‘Prasad’. On the Judgment Day of Shivratri, there’s a traditionto distribute gifts among relations .