Maha Shivaratri

 

Maha Shivaratri
Shivaratri Celebrations in India are marked with devotion and religious fervor. So this Festival of Mahashivaratri is the most important festival for the millions of devotees of Lord Shiva.
Shivaratri is celebrated in the month of Feb or March every year. On this auspicious day, devotees observe fast and keep vigil all night. Celebrated in the dark fortnight or Krishna Paksha(waning moon) of the month of Maagha or Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar.
Mahashivaratri marks the night when Lord Shiva performed the 'Tandava'. 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 leaves on Shiva Linga.
Mahashivaratri Festival or the ‘The Night of Shiva’ is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor in honor of Lord Shiva, one of the deities of Hindu Trinity.
Shivaratri falls on the moonless 14th night of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun, which comes in the month of February - March in English Calendar.
There are so many interesting legends related to the festival of Maha Shivaratri. According to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati. Some believe 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.
Shivratri Festival is particularly awaited by Hindu women. On Shivaratri, married and unmarried women perform puja with great faith, as Goddess Parvati who is also called 'Gaura', is regarded as the giver of 'suhag' good husbands, marital bliss and a long and prosperous married life.