Mahashivratri celebrated with devotion across India

The festival of Mahashivaratri is being celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety in Gujarat today. A large number of devotees are visiting the most revered Somnath Mahadev temple, Nageshwar temple in Dwaraka and other prominent Shiva temples in the state. Special arrangements have been made at Somnath temple to facilitate the devotees. In Somnath, the festival of Mahashivratri holds a special significance and the celebration starts at 4 am.

In Uttar Pradesh, devotees are arriving at Shiva temples across the state including Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi since morning to perform Jalabhishek of Lord Shiva. Special preparations have been made in Kashi for Mahashivratri. Apart from the darshan and worship, processions of seven Akharas will also be taken out here.

On the



occasion of Mahashivratri, a grand procession of Lord Shiva will be taken out in Baba Baidyanathdham Deoghar, one among the twelve Jyotirlingas located in Jharkhand. The whole city of Deoghar has been decorated with lights and decor. The Tourism Department of the Jharkhand Government is organizing the Shivratri festival for the first time this year. Chief Minister Hemant Soren will inaugurate the Mahashivratri festival today in KKN stadium in Deoghar.

The holy festival of Maha Shivratri is one of the most auspicious festivals for Hindu devotees. In Maharashtra, people across the state visit temples and perform special pujas to worship Lord Shiva; this day is also observed as a “dry day” in Maharashtra, meaning liquor sales are prohibited