MahaShivratri Celebrations
Shivratri is a Hindu festival, celebrated every year to worship the Lord Shiva.
Maha Shivratri in 2020 is on the Friday, 21st of Feb
Why is Shivratri Celebrated?
Maha shivratri is celebrated during the month of February or March and this festival is devoted to Lord Shiva, as the name Maha shivrati itself means “the big night of Lord Shiva”. It is believed that Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati on this day.
Shivaratri Celebrations
- The devotees of Lord Shiva observe fast and spend their maximum time remembering Shiva. Early in the morning after taking bath people start performing Shivratri rituals and after doing prayers at home a visit to temple is also made.
- People visit temples and make offerings of honey, milk, water, bael leaves and fruits to Shiva lingam. While making offerings, Shiva chalisa and other prayers are also recited, as these prayers help to keep away the problems of Lord Shiva devotees. People generally keep reciting “Om Namah Sivaya”.
Shivaratri Celebrations by Women
- Women eagerly wait for this festival of Shivratri, as both married and unmarried women perform the fast of Shivratri with great believe and carry out all the Shivratri rituals and customs.
- It is believed that Goddess Parvati, known as ‘Gaura’ is the provider of a happy and successful married life and all those women who are unmarried perform this fast to get married to a good husband.
Puja Samagri
- Milk
- Yogurt
- Honey
- Ghee
- Sugar
- Water
- Fruits
- flowers
- Betel leaves
- Bel leaves
Maha Shivratri Puja Procedure
- Bathing the Linga with water, yoghurt, ghee, sugar, honey and milk.
- Apply vermilion paste on the linga after bathing it.
- Now offer bel leaves on top of the Shivalinga.
- Offer fruits to Lord Shiva.
- Offer flowers & betel leaves to Lord Shiva.
- Now burn incense sticks or lamp.
Tradition of Drinking Thandai
A very famous tradition associated with the shivratri celebrations is drinking of the thandai, a drink made of bhang (cannabis), sweet almonds and milk. Drinking this drink is a tradition because Lord Shiva really loved cannabis.
Shivaratri Celebrations in other places
- The celebrations of Shivratri can also be enjoyed at various other places, as this festival is celebrated in all the regions. In west Bengal girls observe Shivratri fast on this festival and worship Lord Shiva.
- Sri Kalahasteshwara Temple at Kalahasti and the Bhramaramba Malikarjunaswamy Temple at Srisailam, in Andhra Pradesh are crowded with devotees during this festival. Umananda Temple at Peacock Island and the Sukreswar Temple on the banks of the river Brahmaputra, in Assam turn out to be a focus during Shivratri celebrations.
hiranya varnaya
hiranya roopaya
hiranya pataye
Ambika pataya
Uma pataye
Pashupataye Namo Namaha
Ishana Sarvavidyanam
Ishwara Sarvabhutanam
Brahmadhipati
Brahmanodhipati
Brahma Shivo me Astu Sada Shiv Om
Tatpurushaya vidmahi
Vakvishudhaya dhimahi
Tanno Shiva Prachodayaat
Oho devaya vidmahi
Rudramurtaye dhimahi
Tanno Shiva Prachodayaat
Namaste Astu Bhagavan
Vishweshvaraya
Mahadevaya
Trayambakaya
Tripurantakaya
Trikagnikalaya
Kalagnirudraya
Neelakantaya
Mrityunjayaya
Sarveshvaraya
Sadashivaya
Shriman Mahadevaya Namaha
Om Shanti
| Maha Shivaratri Dates | ||
| Date | Day | Year |
|---|---|---|
| February 13th | Tuesday | 2018 |
| March 4th | Monday | 2019 |
| February 21st | Friday | 2020 |
| March 11th | Thursday | 2021 |
| February 28th | Monday | 2022 |
| February 18th | Saturday | 2023 |
| March 8th | Friday | 2024 |
Check out some best Mahashivratri messages and wishes.
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