The night dedicated to lord Shiva is ‘Maha Shivaratri’. It’s a Hindu festival. Devotees celebrate it with fervor. The environment echoes with the ringing of bells and conches.

When does Maha Shivaratri fall?

Maha Shivaratri falls in the Hindi month of Phalgun (or February/March as per Gregorian calendar). It comes on the Krishna Paksha Trayodashi or Chaturdashi of Bikram Samvat. Reverends conduct ‘Jaagaran’ to worship Mahadeva throughout night.

Why it is celebrated?

Shiva is a legend himself. His legendary is mentioned in Garuda Purana and many other scriptures of Hindus. Let’s catch a few famous mythologies that stat the significance of this festival.

Lord Shiva is considered as an illuminating figure. Let’s learn ‘Why’. It was the time when there was no cosmos. Lord Brahma suddenly came out of lord Vishnu’s navel. A rift broke out between them over claiming superiority. Lord Shiva intercepted. He set them off to find the north & south end of the pillar of light. Brahma took avatar of a swan while Vishnu became a boar.

A flower namely ‘Ketki’ told a lie to favour Brahma. He claimed that he had found the southern end. And lord Vishnu told the truth of finding no end. Lord Shiva got angry over liar Brahma. He cursed him to deprive of being worshipped.

Another is the story of Samudra Manthan. The churning of ocean produced a byproduct called ‘Poison’. Lord Shiva saved the earth from the impending destruction due to that poison. He bears earth in his stomach. He choked it in his neck that turned his throat in to blue. This is why he is known as ‘Neelkantha’.

One more story also goes of Maha Shivaratri. King Chitrabhanu had regression of his past life. He recalled that he was a hunter then. One day, he did not make out any hunting. It was only mean of earning bread and butter. So, he sat on the bael tree. With empty stomach, he kept awake throwing leaves down at Shivalinga. Canned water in his hand was dropping down. It was the night of Maha Shivaratri. Involuntarily, he did fasting and worshipping of lord Shiva.

Appeased lord called him to his abode when he took his last breathe. Lord’s messengers had a terrible fight with the messenger of Yama (the deity of death) since they wanted to take him along. The former messengers defeated the latter.

How people celebrate this festival?

Worshippers take a bath early in the morning. They add a few drops of Ganges water to it for purifying themselves. Wearing clean cloths, they head to the temple with offerings. Hindus living abroad book priest online to conduct Shiv puja at home.

The offering of betel leaves, applewood, sandalwood paste, vermillion, and fruits made him happy. The worshippers light incense sticks and an earthen lamp before his idol.

The prayer begins with offering water and milk to the Shivalinga. Afterwards, they circumambulate it three to seven times. Then, they offer the offerings. Chanting Shiva’s favourite mantra ‘Om Namah Shivay’, they appease him.