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Nation celebrates Mahashivratri

     New Delhi: Mahashivratri is being celebrated with religious fervour throughout the country today. On the occasion, devotees in Moradabad, Uttar Pradesh dressing up as ghosts and danced on the streets. Curious onlookers dotted both sides of the streets to view this Shiva Tandava Nritya. Devotees observed a fast on this day with some of them not even partaking a drop of water. They also keep a vigil all throughout the night. Meanwhile, the Government of Karnataka has placed an order for 50, 000 litres of holy water (Gangajal) from the River Ganga to be distributed in Shiva Temples across the state. The Government of Karnataka presently ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to distribute the holy water on the day of Shivratri. It has also selected five major Shiva Temples in each Taluk (sub division of a District) where ten litres of holy water will be dispatched for performing rituals and also to distribute among the devotees. This is part of Muzrai Minister Krishnaiah Shetty's initiative to make this year's Shivaratri celebrations unique. "We have decided to celebrate this festival significantly by way of performing Abhishekam in all five temples in every Taluk of Karnataka," said Shetty, Minister of Muzrai Department. However, the Congress believes that the BJP-ruled Government is trying to gather votes in the upcoming elections through this. "That's very good that they are giving the holy water on this special occasion of Shivratri. I've never heard like that," said Saurav Roy, a devotee.

     Varanasi/Srinagar: Thousands of devotees had converged on the river banks at Varanasi to take a holy dip in River Ganges. They also make offerings of flowers, sweets and incense sticks at the temples. "The occasion of ' Mahashivaratri ' comes once a year. On this day pilgrims from far off places come here to take a holy dip and also give bath to Lord Shiva's idol so that their prayers and wishes are fulfilled," said Ram Bharat Pandey, a Hindu priest, Varanasi. In Srinagar, the devotees thronged temples to pray for their loved ones. A highlight of the Mahashivratri in Srinagar was that even the Kashmiri Muslims participated in the celebrations sans any qualms or differences. "I am feeling very good. We all come together to celebrate this occasion no matter whether there are Muslims or Sikhs. When we meet the Kashmiri Pandits, they give us walnuts to eat and we also hug each other. We pray to God that every year we should celebrate our unity and brotherhood in the same way and may this 'Shivratri' bring peace and togetherness with it," said Mohammad Sarwar Khan, a devotee. Lord Shiva forms part of the trinity of Gods, along with Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, in the Hindu mythology. Devotees of Shiva fast during the day and maintain a long vigil during the night. On the day of Shivratri, the lingam is bathed with the five sacred offerings of a cow, called panchagavya. Thereafter, the five foods of immortality - milk, clarified butter, curd, honey and sugar - are placed before the lingam. Dhatura and jati, though poisonous fruits, are believed to be sacred to Shiva and thus offered at his temples. Eleven is considered to be the sacred number of the Lord.
- Feb 23, 2009