Fervour marks Mahashivratri across India
PTI
NEW DELHI, FEB 23
Faithful thronged temples, took dip in sacred rivers and observed dawn-to-dusk fast as Mahashivratri was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across the country today.
Police kept a hawk-eye vigil outside revered shrines as worshippers poured a concoction of milk, rose water and honey on the Shivling while offering prayers at temples.
Long-winding queues were seen outside the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi as more than three lakh devotees offered Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva and bathed the Lingam in milk.
Amidst chants of Bam Bhole, the faithful offered prayers at temples in other parts of the country as authorities beefed up security to ward off any terror strike.
The celebrations took a different hue in Karnataka with the BJP Government there distributing Ganga Jal, transported from Rishikesh, among devotees in some temples.
The Government also distributed six lakh calendars of Lord Shiv worshipped as the deity of dissolution on this day.
It is believed that on Shivratri, which generally falls on the 13th or 14th day of the month of Phalgun, Lord Shiv got married to Goddess Parvati.
Unmarried women too fast on the occasion praying for a good husband like Lord Shiva.
Additional police, PAC and para-military personnel were deployed near the Kashi Vishwanath temple in view of threat of a terror strike, DIG (Varanasi) P C Meena told PTI.
Sharpshooters and Quick Reaction Team commandos, positioned at strategic points, kept constant vigil, he said.
Devotees also flocked to other temples in the holy city and offered prayers.
Fervour marks Mahashivratri across India
NEW DELHI, FEB 23 Faithful thronged temples, took dip in sacred rivers and observed dawn-to-dusk fast as Mahashivratri was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across the country today.
