Shivratri celebrated in Nepal and India

Agencies Published March 7, 2016
A sadhu smears ashes on his body during the Shivaratri festival at the premises of Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu smears ashes on his body during the Shivaratri festival at the premises of Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu with a snake wrapped on his neck sits at Pashupatinath Temple during the Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu with a snake wrapped on his neck sits at Pashupatinath Temple during the Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
Hindu devotees stand in queue to offer prayers at a temple on Mahashivratri festival in Jammu. ─ AP
Hindu devotees stand in queue to offer prayers at a temple on Mahashivratri festival in Jammu. ─ AP
Sadhus sit beside the fire as they chant religious song during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
Sadhus sit beside the fire as they chant religious song during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
Smoke rises as a devotee sits next to a fire during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
Smoke rises as a devotee sits next to a fire during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu smeared with ashes smokes marijuana in a chillum during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu smeared with ashes smokes marijuana in a chillum during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu prepares marijuana before smoking it during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu prepares marijuana before smoking it during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
Hindu devotees wait in queue to offer prayers at a Shiva temple on Mahashivratri festival in New Delhi. ─ AP
Hindu devotees wait in queue to offer prayers at a Shiva temple on Mahashivratri festival in New Delhi. ─ AP
A sadhu ties his hair as he stands outside his ashram during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu ties his hair as he stands outside his ashram during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu, smeared with ashes, applies tika on his forehead during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu, smeared with ashes, applies tika on his forehead during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu poses for a picture with devotees during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu poses for a picture with devotees during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu smears ashes on his face during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
A sadhu smears ashes on his face during the Shivaratri festival at Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu. ─ Reuters
Three blind men beg for money from devotees waiting to offer prayers at a Shiva temple on Mahashivratri festival in New Delhi. ─ AP
Three blind men beg for money from devotees waiting to offer prayers at a Shiva temple on Mahashivratri festival in New Delhi. ─ AP
An Indian Hindu woman devotee prays at a temple on Mahashivratri festival in Jammu. ─ AP
An Indian Hindu woman devotee prays at a temple on Mahashivratri festival in Jammu. ─ AP
Devotees carry pots of sacred water and milk as they stand in queue to offer prayers at a temple on Mahashivratri festival in Jammu. ─ AP
Devotees carry pots of sacred water and milk as they stand in queue to offer prayers at a temple on Mahashivratri festival in Jammu. ─ AP
A devotee pours milk over a Shivling (a symbol of Lord Shiva) at a temple during the Mahashivratri festival in Ahmedabad. ─ Reuters
A devotee pours milk over a Shivling (a symbol of Lord Shiva) at a temple during the Mahashivratri festival in Ahmedabad. ─ Reuters
Devotees pour milk over a Shivling (a symbol of Lord Shiva) at a temple during the Mahashivratri festival in Ahmedabad. ─ Reuters
Devotees pour milk over a Shivling (a symbol of Lord Shiva) at a temple during the Mahashivratri festival in Ahmedabad. ─ Reuters

Hindus across the world are celebrating Mahashivratri, or Shiva's night festival, believed to be the day Shiva got married.

Celebrated by Hindu devotees all over the world, Shivaratri is dedicated to Lord Shiva, and holy men ─ sadhus ─ mark the occasion by praying, smoking marijuana or smearing their bodies with ashes.

Hindu holy men from Nepal and India come to Pashupatinath Temple to take part in the Mahashivratri festival.

Security in the Indian capital was beefed up with more police and paramilitary troops assigned to shopping malls, railway stations and other crowded places.

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Comments (16) Closed
Yuvraj Vats
Mar 07, 2016 05:44pm
Beautiful Clicks.. Amazing it is :)
Recommend 0
vinay kumar reddy-hyderabad(india)
Mar 07, 2016 06:54pm
please show how hindus are celebrating in pakistan..waiting for.happy shiva ratri to all south asian brothers ans sisters..
Recommend 0
solani
Mar 08, 2016 02:05am
There is no barriers in religion, how would you like to say the name of God, He likes it.
Recommend 0
Saba
Mar 08, 2016 10:12am
beautiful colors of religions, traditions and values.
Recommend 0
Indian
Mar 08, 2016 10:12am
Amazing Pictures thanks for Sharing
Recommend 0
Ashok Ambati
Mar 08, 2016 10:45am
Indian News channels are neglecting to show how the majority people are celebrating their festivals in India. Heartly Thanks to Pakistani dawn.com. Excellent images have been posted. Some Indian Political parties and Some news channels are playing vote bank politics, So common people are suffering.
Recommend 0
Bhushan Parimoo
Mar 08, 2016 11:34am
thanks, Dawn indeed behaves like a Dawn, eminiting rays of knowledge information to all without discriminating to any faith, journalism there has developed under elders very well appreciated and at time envious, making us to think where we fail,
Recommend 0
ishrat ke abba chidambaram
Mar 08, 2016 11:54am
Thanks DAWN for beautiful pics.
Recommend 0
p k pandey
Mar 08, 2016 02:05pm
This is the beauty of indian culture, tradition and rituals. The colourful, musical, peaceful, nonvoilent with message of peace in all its festivals.
Recommend 0
Dr.Cajetan Coelho
Mar 08, 2016 06:15pm
People of different cultures celebrate the gift of life in every nook and corner of our universe. God be praised.
Recommend 0
AFRIDI
Mar 09, 2016 09:56am
Beautiful pics!
Recommend 0
democrat
Mar 09, 2016 11:00am
Again incredible. Fantastic photos. No Indian newspaper will publish such photos. No one wants to be called right winged. Well done.
Recommend 0
Kishor Bhandari
Mar 09, 2016 02:09pm
Amazing Pictures, Thank Dawn....
Recommend 0
natey
Mar 09, 2016 05:31pm
wow.. dawn..such high quality pics and such great timing..the photographer is very good at his job....can never such quality pics on any other news site..and its good to see different culture shown on dawn...u will never find pakistani celebrating eid pics on indian news site..most of indian news site full with hatred towards pak..even their comments full with hatred..pak media going right way..
Recommend 0
Anil
Mar 09, 2016 07:09pm
Happy Shivratri to my PakistanI Hindu brothers and sisters!
Recommend 0
KANNAN
Mar 10, 2016 12:15am
Super fotos..
Recommend 0

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