Maha Shivratri Celebrations 2014

One of the most revered religious festivals in the country and celebrated all over. strong> Maha Shivratri (the 'Great Night of Shiva') is a Hindu festival celebrated every year in reverence of Lord Shiva. The Mahashivratri festival, also much popular as 'Shivratri' or 'Great Night of Lord Shiva', is observed on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha every year on the month of Maagh according to the Hindu calendar. Maha Shivratri is associated with Marriage of Shiva and Shakti.

All these legends signify that this day is the favourite day of Lord Shiva and also throw light on the greatness of Lord Shiva and his supremacy over all other Hindu Gods and Goddesses.

Mahashivaratri also marks the night when Lord Shiva performed the 'Tandava', the cosmic dance.

According to another legend Samudra Manthan , Shiva saved the world from the disastrous effects of a poison that emerged as a byproduct of churning of sea (Samudra manthan), by consuming whole of it. Shiva could arrest the poison in his throat by his Yogic powers and it could not go down his body. His neck turned blue due to effect of poison on his throat and henceforth he is also called as Neela Kantha or The blue Throated.

All the Abhyasites were ready early in the morning and were beaming with enthusiasm for going to the Shiva Temple.