Mahashivaratri

Maha Shivaratri or "Grand Night of Shiva" is a hindu festival celebrated every year in the Krishan Paksha of the Maagha Month of the Hindu Calendar.It is observed in honor of the Hindu God Shiva. Maha Shivratri is celebrated on the 14th night of the new moon of the Maagha month. Every year on this moonless night in February thousands of devotees worship Shiva and offer their prayers in the temple. It is believed that on this night he performed the ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction. On the auspicious day, devotees observe fast and keep vigil all night. It is also believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati Ma. On this day Shiva devotees observe fast and offer fruits, flowers and bel (also called bael) leaves on Shiva Linga.

Devotees observe strict fast in honor of Shiva, though many go on a diet of fruits and milk some do not consume even a drop of water. Devotees strongly believe that sincere worship of Lord Shiva on the auspicious day of Shivaratri, absolves a person of sins and liberates him from the cycle of birth and death. Shivaratri is considered especially auspicious for women. While married women pray for the well being of their husbands unmarried women pray for a husband like Lord Shiva, who is regarded as the ideal husband.

There are many legends associated to the festival of Maha Shivaratri. One of the most popular legends, Shivaratri marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. It is blieved that it was on the auspicious night of Shivaratri that Lord Shiva performed the ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction. Another popular Shivratri legend stated in Linga Purana states that it was on Shivaratri that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Linga. Hence the day is considered to be extremely auspicious by Shiva devotees and they celebrate it as Mahashivaratri - the grand night of Shiva.

Another well known legend for this festival is that of Samudramanthan. When the sea was churned during Samudramanthan, dreadful poison emerged which was capable of destroying the entire world. At that time, the gods and the demons ran to Shiva for help. Lord Shiva drank the poison and held it in his throat instead of swallowing it much to the relief of the gods and demons. Because of the poison, lord shiva's throat turned blue and he was given the name Nilkantha, the blue-throated one. Shivratri is the celebration of this event by which Shiva saved the world.