Mahashivratri is predominantly a Hindu festival that takes place every year in honour of Lord Shiva. According to the Hindu calendar, the festival is celebrated on the new moon day in the month of Maagha .The day is celebrated to venerate Lord Shiva, an important deity in Hindu culture. The day is said to mark the day when Lord Shiva got married.
And today on this auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, the temples across the city are crowded with devotees. The temples are decorated with lights and colourful decorations and people can be seen offering night long prayers to Shiva Lingam. Wood apple leaves, cold water and milk are offered to the Shiva Lingam on this day as they are believed to be Lord Shiva’s favourite. The temples are reverberating with the panchakshari mantra ‘Om Namah Shivay’.And devotees and Shivbhakt are engaged themselves with prayers, rituals and paying obeisance to Lord Shiva. Ashish Bhise, a devotee said that the people who fast on this night and offer prayers to Lord Shiva bring good luck into their life. Another devotee said that people get peace of mind after visiting temple.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.
The most popular Maha Shivratri celebrations take place in Ujjain, believed to be the place of residence of Lord Shiva. Large processions are carried out throughout the city, with people thronging the streets to catch a glimpse of the revered idol of Lord Shiva.
