On March 10th, 2013 hundreds of millions of people around the world, mostly devotees of Lord Shiva and followers of Hinduism celebrate a spiritual and religious festival focused on Lord called Maha Shivaratri (also spelt as Sivaratri)
Maha Shivaratri means “The Night of Shiva”. The religious ceremonies mainly occur during the late evening and night. This is a celebration observed in honor of Lord Shiva ji. Shiva ji was married to Parvati on this day. This is the night when Shiva ji is said to have performed the Tandava or the
dance that symbolizes creation, preservation and destruction.
People repeat the popular Panchakshara Mantra ’om namah shivaya’ as it is said he who utters the Names of Shiva during Maha Shivaratri, with perfect devotion and concentration, is freed from all sins and reaches the abode of Shiva and lives there happily. He is liberated from the wheel of births and deaths. Most devotees of Shiva go to the places where there are temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually on the 13th and 14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha or Phalguna in the Hindu calendar.
Maha Shivaratri is not all fun and joy everywhere. In Pakistan and other Islamic nations, Hindus have complained that they celebrate Maha Shivaratri and other major hindu festivals in fear with little or no security from the government and encounter constant threats from muslim terrorist groups.
Author wishes everyone a auspicious and blessed Shivaratri. Happy and Shubh Maha Shivaratri!
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