Mahashivratri 2024: Why We Celebrate The Auspicious Festival

Mahashivratri 2024: Mahashivratri, an auspicious Hindu festival, is an annual celebration dedicated to Lord Shiva, considered the supreme deity in Hinduism. This special day is very important and is celebrated by people who follow Shiva all over the world.

Maha Shivratri, also called the big night of Lord Shiva, is a special day when people fast, meditate on Shiva, think about themselves, work on making society better, and stay up all night at Shiva temples.

According to the Hindu calendar, Maha Shivratri is celebrated every year on the fourteenth day of the dark (waning) half of the lunar month of Phalguna or Magha. In the Gregorian calendar, this year, Mahashivratri is on Friday, March 8, 2024.

Why do we celebrate Mahashivratri?

Mahashivratri | Photo: Freepik

According to Hindu beliefs, Mahasivaratri is celebrated for various reasons. One of them is the marriage of Shiva and Parvati, which is said to have taken place on this day. This union is celebrated annually as a symbol of love and harmony.

Another reason for celebrating Mahasivaratri is to honor the night when Shiva and Shakti, representing masculine and feminine energies, come together. This balance is essential for the world to function smoothly.

There is also a legend that says Mahasivaratri is observed to commemorate the day when Shiva drank the poison that emerged during the churning of the ocean. This act saved the world from darkness and despair. The poison turned his throat blue, leading to his nickname, Neelkanth.

Of the 12 Shivratris celebrated each year, Maha Shivratri is considered the most significant. It is a solemn festival in Hindu culture, symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and ignorance.

Various legends describe the significance of Maha Shivratri. One legend says that on this night, Shiva performs his cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction. Another legend suggests that offering prayers to Shiva on this night can help one let go of their sins and start on the path of righteousness, ultimately leading to 'moksha' or liberation.

Celebrations and Rituals:

On Mahashivaratri, people fast to make Lord Shiva happy. This festival is very special for women. Married women pray for their husbands, and unmarried women pray for a husband like Lord Shiva, who is known for being a good husband.

During Mahashivaratri, people do many rituals in temples. They pray and do ceremonies for Lord Shiva. They give him things like milk, honey, flowers, and Bilva Patra leaves.

People also fast on Mahashivaratri. They don't eat or drink anything all day. Some people stay awake all night and pray. This is called the "Night of Awakening." Others go to temples to get blessings from Lord Shiva. People use this night to pray to Adidev Mahadev by chanting and listening to Mantras like Mahamrityunjay Mantra and Shiva Tandav Stotram.

Mahashivaratri is a big festival at many Shiva temples, like the Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga in Ujjain and the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi. People sing songs, chant mantras, and ring temple bells.

Mahashivaratri is called "The Great Night of Shiva." It's a time for people to find inner peace and enlightenment. They believe Lord Shiva is very kind on this night and will grant their wishes if they pray with all their heart.

Besides being a religious festival, Mahashivaratri is also celebrated with cultural events. People dance, sing, and do other cultural things, making it a big celebration for everyone.

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