Shivratri , an important festival of Hindus is being celebrated today. The festival is celebrated in the northern region of India on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha of Phalgun month of Hindu calendar and Magha Krishna Trayodasi / Chaturdashi as per Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh calendars. People celebrate Shivratri to get the blessings of Lord Shiva. Devotees observe fasting on this day and offer prayers to Lord of destruction. Devotees chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra “Om Namah Shivaya” during Shivratri as they believe that by doing this they will be freed from all sins.
The festival is most scrupulously observed by the Kashmiri Pandits . The entertainment of the Sivratri festival extends to about three weeks in Kashmiri Pandit house-holds.
In Jammu and Kashmir, Maha Shivratri festival is being celebrated with religious fervour and lot of enthusiasm. Maha Shivratri is the most important festival of the Kashmir Pandits. Shivratri is the crown of Hindu festivals and is spread over a full fortnight of Phalgun month. State Governor and Chief Minister greet the people of the state on this occasion. Details from our Correspondent:
However, ‘Shivratri’ festival which is most scrupulously observed by the Kashmiri Pandits, the ancient and original inhabitants of Kashmir, are celebrating the Festival from yesterday. The entertainment of the Sivratri festival extends to about three weeks in Kashmiri Pandit house-holds. The Mahashivratri festival is observed as Herath by Kashmiri Pandits and it celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma. Herath festival begins on the first day of Phalgun Krishna Paksha and ends on the Amavasi day in Phalgun.
In Uttar Pradesh Mahashivratri is being celebrated today across the state. At several places including Varanasi , Allahabad , Barabanki, Lakhimpur Kheri, Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Mathura and Naimisharanya in Sitapur temples and places of worships have been decorated nicely with flowers and lights. Large numbers of pilgrims have reached at Allahabad to take holy dip at Sangam the confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati on the last bathing festival of more than one month long Magh Mela.
AIR Lucknow correspondent Sunil Shukla reports that Magh Mela, largest Hindu congregation of the world will be officially concluded with bathing on Mahashivratri. The administration and police have made adequate arrangements for peaceful celebration of bathing on the auspicious occasion.
Shiv Barats are also being taken out at several places including Allahabad Varanasi and Ayodhya.
Massive security arrangements have been made across the state and 12 companies of Rapid Action Force and 39 companies of PAC are deployed. Additional forces have been provided to the sensitive districts including Varanasi , Lucknow , Faizabad, Gorakhpur , Allahabad , Mathura , Aligarh and Chitrakoot for deployment at all the temples of Lord Shiva and sensitive sites across the town. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in and around at famous Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in the country, at Varanasi . CCTV cameras have been installed at important buildings to monitor the movements of any unsocial elements in the temple area. The entry of devotees in Kashi Vishwanath temple to offer Darshan has begun immediately after Mangla Aarti at wee hours. In view of heavy rush of devotees on this occasion traffic restrictions have been imposed on different routes from last mid-night and it will continue till this mid night. Considering movements of large number of pilgrims to Haridwar elaborate security arrangements have also been made at bordering districts of Saharanpur , Meerut , Muzaffarnagar, Pilibhit, Bareilly and Rampur districts.
