India is known for its rich and diverse culture, where a
number of Gods and Goddesses are seen to be worshipped, and a number of
festivals are celebrated throughout the year. Every festival, whether big or
small, is celebrated with great joy and enthusiasm, and Mahashivratri is no
exception. Different regions of the country celebrate this grand day in
different manners because of the various legends associated with this special
day. The most common rituals carried out at all Shiv temples across the country
include Abhishekam, Aartis, and Havans. But, there are certain rituals that are
specific to certain cultures. And to enjoy this diversity, you must make it a
point to visit the below mentioned places on this festive day – one different
region every year.
North India
Shiv’s consort – Goddess Parvati – is believed to be the
daughter of the Himalay. Therefore, the mountainous regions of India engage in
grand and magnificent Mahashivratri celebrations. Every Shiva temple is
thronged by both locals and tourists on this day. The festivities in certain
places go up to even a week or fortnight! The Mandi district in Himachal
Pradesh has the famous Bhootnath temple, which is the highlight of the week
long Mandi festival taking place in this region on Mahashivratri. This festival
is a 500 year old tradition, and attracts tourists from different places across
the globe. Another temple one must visit is the Neelkanth Mahadev Mandir in
Rishikesh, which is situated at th every place where Lord Shiva consumed the
poison that was produced from the Samudra Manthan. A grand fair is organized by
this temple on this day, where visitors throng to participate in the
celebrations. If you are anywhere in Kathmandu, Nepal, you mustn’t miss out on
visiting the grand and culturally rich Pashupatinath temple, located on the
banks of the river Bagmati.
South India
As much as in the North, Lord Shiva is also a beloved one in
the South. In some parts of South India, shiva is referred to as Yogiraj and
Adiguru. This is why people in this region who belong o the dance and music
field please Lord Shiva by performing Tandava and Lasya dances. The Srisailam
in Andhra Pradesh is devoted to the Mallikarjun avatar of Lord Shiva. This
temple has both the Jyotirling and Shakti Peeth, thus signifying the strong
bond of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Another famous temple, the Thrikkuratti
temple in Kerala, hosts a special dance program known as the Sivarathri Nrutham
on the grand occasion of Mahashivratri. The performances are inspired from
Shiva’s dances, and thus are called Anandatandava.
East India
Mahashivratri is of utmost importanc to the devotees of Lord
Shiva in East India because this region is home to many Jyotirlings and the
King of Jyotirlings – The Lingaraj, where lakhs of visitors throng on
Mahashivratri. People are seen to offer Abhishekam and prayers to the Lord; and
local processions are also seen. The Tilbhandeshwar temple in Varanasi
organizes a special 5 hour long wedding procession, where participants dress up
as divine deities, dance, and play with colours. This procession is due to the
fact that Mahashivratri in this region is believed to be the day when Lord
Shiva married Parvati. The Lokanath temple in Odissa has the Shivlings immersed
in a natural water fountain throughout the year, where the water is drained
only on Mahashivratri so that the devotees can see the Shivling and offer their
prayers.
West India
The regions of Gujarat, Rajasthan and Maharashtra also see
lots of devotees worshipping the Shivling and offering water, milk, belpatra
and fruits on this auspicious day. People here also observe the Mahashivratri
fast, wherein they consume only water, milk and fruits all day long. The
Somnath temple in Gujarat is believed to be the first among the twelve
Jyotirling shrines of Lord Shiva, where he is believed to have appeared as a
fiery column of light. This temple is an important pilgrimage and tourist spot
of Gujarat, not only on Mahashivratri, but all throughout the year.
You can see how Lord Shiva is respected and prayed to with
immense faith and devotion throughout the country of India, no matter what the
region. Make it a point to visit any of the above mentioned places every
Mahashivratri to pray to the Lord, along with enjoying the festivities.
However, if you are unable to visit these places, don’t be disheartened. You
can attain the same amount of blessings of the Lord by performing a simple
Mahashivratri Puja right at your home, in the presence of the most professional
and qualified MakeMyPuja Pandits.
Website: https://www.makemypuja.com/
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