Maha Shivaratri festival is carried out with devoutness and religious fervour to appease Lord Shiva, one among the Hindu Trinity. Shivaratri falls in the Phalgun month of the Hindu Calendar and is the 14th night of the new moon. On this auspicious night of Shivaratri people fast day and night and worship the holy Shiva Lingam to please Lord Shiva.

The mythological stories behind the celebration of Maha Shivaratri

There are numerous exciting stories related to the pageant of Maha Shivaratri. As per one of the well-known legends, Shivaratri marks the marriage day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. It is believed that on this auspicious night of Shivaratri Lord Shiva presented ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal introduction, renovation and destruction. One more famous story stated in Linga Purana says that, it was on the very day of Shivaratri Lord Shiva exhibited himself in the shape of a Linga. Thus, devotees of Lord Shiva consider this day to be pretty auspicious and celebrate it with glory and pomp as Maha Shivaratri - the magnificent night of Shiva.

Beliefs and practices of Shivaratri

The devotees of Lord Shiva strictly follow different rituals and customs of Shivaratri and observe strict fast by giving due respect to the lord. During this fast, most people follow a liquid diet while some do not eat or drink the whole day. People completely believe that one can get rid of the sins and attain moksha by earnestly worshipping Lord Shiva. On the other hand, the festival of Maha Shivaratri is regarded very propitious for women. Since Lord Shiva is considered to be a perfect husband, married women pray for the welfare of their husbands on this auspicious day while unmarried women hope to get married to a husband like Lord Shiva.

On this most prominent night of Maha Shivaratri, followers of Lord Shiva take a holy bath early in the morning and visit close by Shiva temples to offer a sacramental bath to the Shiva Lingam using honey, water, milk and so on. People worship Lord Shiva the entire night and priests carries out the sacred pooja of the Shiv Lingam by continuously chanting ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and offering a holy bath with yogurt, milk, honey, sugar, ghee and water.

People stay awake the whole night and praise Lord Shiva by singing devotional songs and on the next morning they break their fast by consuming prasad that is presented to the Lord.