Celebrating the Mahashivratri festival

Dawn.com Published February 21, 2012
A Hindu devotee whispers her wishes in the ear of Nandi (mount of Lord Shiva) inside a temple during the Mahashivratri festival in Jammu February 20, 2012. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu devotee whispers her wishes in the ear of Nandi (mount of Lord Shiva) inside a temple during the Mahashivratri festival in Jammu February 20, 2012. ? Reuters Photo
Indian devotees offer prayers after lighting diyas (earthen lamps) in the shape of Shiva Lingam representing Hindu god Lord Shivan during Maha Shivaratri at the RamalayamTemple in Hyderabad on February 20, 2012.? AFP Photo
Indian devotees offer prayers after lighting diyas (earthen lamps) in the shape of Shiva Lingam representing Hindu god Lord Shivan during Maha Shivaratri at the RamalayamTemple in Hyderabad on February 20, 2012.? AFP Photo
Hindu devotees pour milk over Shivling (a symbol of Lord Shiva) inside a temple during the Maha shivratri festival in the northern Indian city of Allahabad February 20, 2012. Hindus across the country celebrate Mahashivratri, better known as the Lord Shiva's wedding anniversary. ? Reuters Photo
Hindu devotees pour milk over Shivling (a symbol of Lord Shiva) inside a temple during the Maha shivratri festival in the northern Indian city of Allahabad February 20, 2012. Hindus across the country celebrate Mahashivratri, better known as the Lord Shiva's wedding anniversary. ? Reuters Photo
Indian children ride with devotee dressed as Hindu Lord Shiva in a procession during Maha Shivaratri in New Delhi on February 20, 2012. The festival of Maha Shivaratri is marked by Hindus fasting and offering prayers in a night long vigil. ?AFP Photo
Indian children ride with devotee dressed as Hindu Lord Shiva in a procession during Maha Shivaratri in New Delhi on February 20, 2012. The festival of Maha Shivaratri is marked by Hindus fasting and offering prayers in a night long vigil. ?AFP Photo
An Indian Hindu devotee touches the foot of a statue of Lord Ram as he prays at a Lord Shiva temple during Shivratri festival celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Feb. 20, 2012. Hindu festival Shivratri is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and regeneration. ? AP Photo
An Indian Hindu devotee touches the foot of a statue of Lord Ram as he prays at a Lord Shiva temple during Shivratri festival celebrations in New Delhi, India, Monday, Feb. 20, 2012. Hindu festival Shivratri is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, the Hindu god of destruction and regeneration. ? AP Photo
School girls offer prayer before a performance of Indian classical dance on the occasion of Mahashivratri festival in Thiruvananthapuram, capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala February 20, 2012. ? Reuters Photo
School girls offer prayer before a performance of Indian classical dance on the occasion of Mahashivratri festival in Thiruvananthapuram, capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala February 20, 2012. ? Reuters Photo
School girls offer prayer after a performance of Bharatnatyam, an Indian classical dance, on the occasion of Mahashivratri festival in Thiruvananthapuram, capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala February 20, 2012. Hindus across the country celebrate Mahashivratri, better known as the Lord Shiva's wedding anniversary. ? Reuters Photo
School girls offer prayer after a performance of Bharatnatyam, an Indian classical dance, on the occasion of Mahashivratri festival in Thiruvananthapuram, capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala February 20, 2012. Hindus across the country celebrate Mahashivratri, better known as the Lord Shiva's wedding anniversary. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, smokes marijuana on a chillum at the premises of Pashupatinath Temple during the Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu February 20, 2012.Hindu holy men from Nepal and India come to this temple to take part in the Shivaratri festival which is one of the biggest Hindu festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva and celebrated by devotees all over the world, with holy men smoking marijuana and some smearing their bodies with ashes and praying. ? Reuters Photo
A Hindu holy man, or sadhu, smokes marijuana on a chillum at the premises of Pashupatinath Temple during the Shivaratri festival in Kathmandu February 20, 2012.Hindu holy men from Nepal and India come to this temple to take part in the Shivaratri festival which is one of the biggest Hindu festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva and celebrated by devotees all over the world, with holy men smoking marijuana and some smearing their bodies with ashes and praying. ? Reuters Photo
An Indian girl performs acrobatic skills on a rope during Mahashivratri festival celebrations at Bhavnath temple in Junagadh, about 327 kilometers (204 miles) from Ahmedabad, India. Hindus across the world are celebrating Mahashivratri or Shiva's night festival. ? AP Photo
An Indian girl performs acrobatic skills on a rope during Mahashivratri festival celebrations at Bhavnath temple in Junagadh, about 327 kilometers (204 miles) from Ahmedabad, India. Hindus across the world are celebrating Mahashivratri or Shiva's night festival. ? AP Photo

The Maha Shivratri festival is celebrated annually on the 13th and 14th day of the Maagha or Phalguna month of the Hindu calendar in respect to Lord Shiva.

This is one of the biggest Hindu festivals dedicated to Lord Shiva and is celebrated by devotees all over the world, in accordance to scriptural traditions where people carry all day fasting and all night long vigils and meditations.

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