BY TC News Desk
Agartala, 9th March 2024 : The city of Agartala witnessed a festive mood on Saturday as thousands of devotees thronged the temples of Lord Shiva to celebrate Maha Shivratri, the great night of the destroyer god. The devotees performed the ritual of ‘Abhishek’, pouring milk, water, honey and other offerings on the Shiva Lingam, the symbol of Shiva’s energy and power.
Maha Shivratri is one of the most important festivals of Hinduism, which marks the wedding anniversary of Shiva and Parvati, as well as the night when Shiva performed his cosmic dance of creation, preservation and destruction. ¹ The festival falls on the fourteenth day of the dark fortnight of the lunar month of Phalguna, which corresponds to February or March in the Gregorian calendar. ²
On this auspicious day, the devotees observe a strict fast and stay awake all night, chanting hymns and mantras in praise of Shiva. They believe that by doing so, they will attain spiritual enlightenment and liberation from the cycle of birth and death.
The temples of Agartala, such as Battala Shiva Mandir, Central Road Shiva Bari, Lakshmi Narayan Bari Mandir and others, were decorated with lights and flowers, and witnessed long queues of devotees waiting for their turn to worship Shiva. Some of the devotees also carried pots of holy water from the nearby rivers and ponds to offer to Shiva.
A couple who came to offer prayers at the Central Road Shibbari temple told reporters, “We waited for almost an hour and finally got a chance to ‘abhishek’ Lord Shiva. We are on hunger strike since yesterday but we are very happy to be able to celebrate this day.”
Not only adults, but also children of different ages participated in the festival with enthusiasm and joy. They wore new clothes and visited the temples with their families and friends. Fairs were also organized in front of the temples, where various stalls of food, games and handicrafts were set up. The police and security forces were also deployed to ensure the safety and order of the public.
The festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated across India and among the Hindu diaspora in different parts of the world. It is a day of devotion, faith and gratitude towards Shiva, who is considered as the supreme lord of the universe.
