FT NEWS

The festival of Mahashivratri, also known as the ‘Great night of Lord Shiva,’ is celebrated with fervour and devotion across the nation. On the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, devotees please Lord Shiva by observing fast, offer prayers and worship the Shivaling which is an iconic representation of Lord Shiva. While the day is traditionally celebrated as the wedding anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, there is much more significance to this festival. Gracy Singh who essays the role of Santoshi Maa in &TV’s Santoshi Maa Sunaye Vrat Kathayein shares, “Going by the puranas, Mahashivratri is the night when Lord Shiva consumed a pot full of poison which was among the many things which emerged out of the samudra manthan. BholenathjI saved the world by storing the poison in his throat and also got named as Neelkanth. According to another theory, Lord Shiva had performed the divine dance of creation, preservation and destruction on the night which is called Mahashivratri.” Talking about the celebrations, Tanvi Dogra aka Swati shares, “On the day of the festival, devotees rise early, take a bath and wear new clothes. They clean the temple area and offer fruits and milk along with flowers, belpatra and dhatura to the Shivalinga. It is then followed by the chanting of Shiv Chalisa, aarti and Maha mrityunjay mantra post which, prasad in the form of halwa or kheer is offered to Lord Shiva. Devotees observe fast and consume only fruits throughout the day. Before the sun sets, a puja session is organised post which satvik food can be consumed. I wish all those observing fast and celebrating this festival a very happy Mahashivratri.”