Jammu & Kashmir  : The festival of Mahashivratri is being celebrated throughout the country today with religious ferver. In Jammu & Kashmir, the festivities started on Sunday. People in large numbers visit Shiva temples and make traditional offerings and prayers.

In Gujarat, six persons including three women and two children were killed and 15 injured in stampede at Mahashivratri fair held at Bhavnath near Junagadh on Sunday night.

The  incident occurred on a narrow road stretch between Panch Naka and Damodar kund due to heavy rush of devotees. Five-day long Bhavnath fair is going on in foothills of mount Girnar.

Chief Minister Narendra Modi has ordered an inquiry into the stampede. He announced an ex-gratia of one lakh rupees to the next of kin of those killed in the stampede.

On the occasion of Mahashivratri, people are flocking to sangam in Allahabad and Ghats of other holy rivers for auspious bathing across Uttar Pradesh.

There is huge rush of devotees at Kashivishwanath temple in Varanasi and Nageshwarnath temple in Ayodhya. Strict security armaments have been made in the holy town. Cctv camera have also been installed in different places.