Mahashivratri 2025: Do you know Lord Shiva's favourite food? Find out here and discover its health benefits

Mahashivratri also spelt as Maha Shivratri, one of the most auspicious festivals, will be observed on February 26 this year. On this day, people seek the blessings of Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati and offer their prayers by visiting temples.

Shivratri is a festival that holds great spiritual and religious significance. Devotees on this day worship Lord Shiva and observe a day-long nirjala vrat (fasting without water), stay up all night, and perform puja at Nishita Kaal or midnight.

Lord Shiva is also called Maha Dev, which means "the greatest god." But do you know what Lord Shiva's favourite food is?

Lord Shiva's favourite food

Neelkantha or lord Shiva is one of the most worshipped gods in Hinduism, as he is also known as the 'destroyer' and the God of transformation and regeneration.

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva is known for his love for good food and drinks. Maha Dev is said to be fond of milk and milk products, and this is the reason why kheer, the traditional Indian dessert, is offered to Lord Shiva as prasad.

But apart from Kheer, according to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva also loved the Bael, or Aegle marmelos. It is also commonly known as Bengal quince, golden apple, Japanese bitter orange, stone apple, or wood apple.

It is said that Lord Shiva is appeased by the offering of Bael leaves and fruits. As well as there is a belief that bael leaves help reduce negativity and spread positive energy. The fruit is a metaphor for Maha Dev, as it has a tough exterior and sweet interior.

Health benefits of Bael

Bael has been used in Indian medicine for over 5,000 years. It is used to treat various health conditions like diarrhoea. According to WebMD, bale contains chemicals such as tannins, flavonoids, and coumarins, which help to reduce swelling in the body, treat asthma, and treat asthma and diarrhoea.

Here are 5 health benefits of eating Bael:

• Helps in digestion: Bael juice is rich in fibre and pectin which improves digestion, regulates bowel movement and maintains a healthy digestion.
• Boosts immunity: Bael juice is rich in vitamins C and A; it also contains antioxidants, which enhance the body's immunity.
• Contains anti-inflammatory properties: Bael juice has anti-inflammatory properties like tannins, flavonoids, and coumarins, which inhibit the production of inflammatory mediators in the body.
• Controls diabetes: It also contains ferulic acid and rutin, which help in regulating blood sugar levels.
• Good for skin health: The presence of antioxidants in bael juice helps protect the skin from oxidative stress and promotes the production of collagen.

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.