Maha Shivratri is a major Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and is celebrated in the month of Falgun. This year, the auspicious feast will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 1. Of the 12 Shivratri observed in any given year, Maha Shivratri is considered particularly auspicious. The festival, also known as the “Great Night of Shiva”, marks the remembrance of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life. The festival is celebrated on the day of the new moon in the month of Maagha conferring on the Hindu calendar which is called February according to the Gregorian calendar. The annual celebration is particularly significant in the Shaivist tradition of Hindu beliefs in God Shiva as the supreme deity. When is Maha Shivratri 2022? Know the Date, Timings of Shivaratri Puja, Rituals, Meaning and all about the Auspicious Festival of Lord Shiva.
There are few best regions in India where devotees can worship Lord Shiva in a devotional environment full of positive energy. We have listed below the top five places famous for their celebration of Maha Shivaratri:
1. Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple – Ujjain
Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple (Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons)
Thousands of devotees visit Shree Mahakaleshwar Temple to pay homage to Lord Shiva and Devi Parvati on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. The Mahakaleshwar temple of Ujjain is one of the 12 jyotirlingas.
2. Bhootnath Temple – Mandi
Mandi Maha Shivratri celebration (Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons)
Bhootnath Temple or Bhiuli Temple is an ancient temple and the most popular religious shrine in Mandi. Lord Shiva is the main deity of Himachal Pradesh and hence the birth of the Lord i.e. Maha Shivratri is the biggest festival in the state.
3. Khajuraho – Madhya Pradesh
Khajuraho Temple (Photo credits: Max Pixel)
The great night of Lord Shiva is celebrated with religious fervor in Madhya Pradesh. Devotees of Shiv Ji take a sacred dip in Sagar Reservoir in Khajuraho. People also visit Matangeshwar temple for the 10 day fair to ask Shiv Ji’s blessing.
4. Haridvar
Representative image (Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons)
Also known as the land of yogis, Haridwar is the perfect place to celebrate Maha Shivratri. The religious place is renowned for its temples and ghats where pilgrims bathe to relieve themselves of their sins.
5. Umananda Temple – Assam
Umananda Temple in Assam (Photo credits: Wikimedia Commons)
Thousands of people in the northeast travel to the Umananda Temple in Assam’s capital, Guwahati, just to witness the great festival held here. Devotees worship the Lord and pray for their welfare.
Apart from these places, Maha Shivaratri is also celebrated in Tamil Nadu with great pomp and gusto at the Annamalaiyar temple located in Tiruvannamalai district. In Kashmiri Shaivism, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated by Kashmiri Hindus.
(The story above first appeared on LatestLY on February 22, 2022 at 2:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle , log in to our website latestly.com).
