Mahashivaratri today on 7th March 7, 2016
Maha Shivaratri is an annual festival celebrated by Hindu in every year. This is especially dedicated to Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva is the god of gods in Hinduism. It is believed to be the day Lord Shiva saved this universe by drinking the “Kalakut” poison that occurred from the churning of the ocean. The same day, Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati. People worship lord Shiva by fasting and puja for the whole day and night. Worshipping goes to every temple of Shiva, rivers, and in ponds from early in the morning. Religion strongly says that if one offers milk, Dhaturo, and Belpatra to lord Shiva and observes a night-long fasting, he or she will receive blessings from Shiva. Lord Shiva feels cold this day, so devotees of his celebrate warming fires near temples, public places, providing him warmth. This night is also celebrated as a night of cosmic dance that Lord Shiva performed.
Mahashivaratri fully make big festival in Nepal. Pashupatinath in Kathmandu is the main temple where millions of devotees from Nepal and other countries visit during this occasion. Thousands of devotees also attend Mahashivaratri at other famous Shiva temples (Peetham) of Nepal. There are hundreds of peethams in Nepal, which are important Shiva Parvati places. Devotees take a holy bath at a holy water source and wear clean clothes to worship. Women and men both offer prayers to the Sun, Vishnu, and Shiva. The temple reverberates with the sound of bells and shouts of "Shankerji ki Jai," meaning 'Hail Shiva'. Devotees circulate the lingam three or seven times, and then pour water over it. Some also pour milk over it.
According to the Shiva Purana, the Mahashivaratri worship must incorporate six items:
- Bathing the Shiva Linga with water, milk, and honey. Woodapple or bel leaves are added, which represent purification of the soul;
- Vermilion paste is applied to the Shiva Linga after bathing it. This represents virtue;
- Offering of fruits, which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires;
- Burning incense, yielding wealth;
- The lighting of the lamp, which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge;
- And betel leaves mark satisfaction with worldly pleasures.
Mahashivaratri is an international fair. More than 80 percent of Hindu lives in Nepal, and this festival is massive in Nepal. It is also celebrated by a large number of people in India. Bangladesh, Malaysia, and other places by Hindu devotees. Devotees from all the places want to reach the Pashupatinath temple that day. Sadhus from other countries and from outside Kathmandu valley arrive in Pashupatinath from couples of days. Pahupatinath in Nepal, Kailash Manasarovar in western Tibet, is again a famous destination to visit the shrine of Lord Shiva and Parvati.
