Mahasivarathri Festival on Feb 17:

'The Night of Siva'

Sivarathri Festival or the 'The Night of Siva' is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor in honor of Lord Siva, 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 corresponds to the month of February - March in English Calendar. Celebrating the festival of Shivaratri devotees observe day and night fast and perform ritual worship of Siva Lingam to appease Lord Siva.

Legends

There are various interesting legends related to the festival of Maha Sivarathri. According to one of the most popular legends, Sivarathrimarks the wedding day of Lord Siva and Parvati. Some believe that it was on the auspicious night of Sivarathri that Lord Shiva performed the 'Tandava', the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction.

Another popular Sivarathri legend says in Linga Purana states that it was on Sivarathri that Lord Siva manifested himself in the form of a Linga. Hence the day is considered to be extremely auspicious by Siva devotees and they celebrate it as Maha Sivarathri - the grand night of Siva.

Traditions and customs

Various traditions and customs related to Sivarathri Festival are dutifully followed by the worshippers of Lord Siva. Devotees observe strict fast in honour of Siva, though many go on a diet of fruits and milk some do not consume even a drop of water. Devotees strongly believe that sincere worship of Lord Siva on the auspicious day of Sivarathri, absolves a person of sins and liberates him from the cycle of birth and death.

Sivarathri 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 Siva, who is regarded as the ideal husband. To mark the Sivarathri festival, devotees wake up early and take a ritual bath, preferably in river Ganga.

After wearing fresh new clothes devotees visit the nearest Siva temple to give ritual bath to the Siva Lingum with milk, honey, water etc.

On Sivarathri, worship of Lord Siva continues all through the day and night. Every three hours priests perform a ritual pooja of Sivalingam by bathing it with milk, yoghurt, honey, ghee, sugar and water amidst the chanting of 'Om Namah Shivaya' and ringing of temple bells.

Night long vigil or jaagran is also observed in Siva temples where large number of devotees spend the night singing hymns and devotional songs in praise of Lord Siva.

It is only on the following morning that devotee break their fast by partaking prasad offered to the deity.

- F.T.I.