Mahashivaratri

The state of Rajasthan is always a great attraction for tourists. The colorful ambiance of the place along with the variety of tourist attractions makes it one of the most sought after tourist destinations in the world. The various fairs and festivals celebrated in Rajasthan also add to the state’s attraction. There are a number of festivals that are celebrated with a lot of fanfare and enthusiasm. The Mahashivaratri is one of the most popular festivals in Rajasthan. This festival bears further significance as the Mahashivaratri is devoted to Lord Shiva who is one of the most important Gods of Hindu religions.

About Mahashivratri

The celebration of Mahashivaratri has a number of beliefs related to it. The most widely accepted belief is that Lord Shiva wanted to marry Sati, King Daksha's daughter. However, the king was against it and insulted him in public. This infuriated Sati so much that she jumped into fire to sacrifice her life. This made Lord Shiva furious. He unleashed his fury by performing Tandava that destroyed the King’s kingdom. He was also about to destroy the world. However, the other Gods decided to revive Sati in a new form as Parvati. Lord Shiva was ultimately married to Parvati and that day is celebrated as Mahashivaratri.

There is also another belief associated with Mahashivaratri. It is believed that Lord Shiva drank poison during Samudra Manthan to save mankind. Lord Shiva was advised to keep awake throughout the night during which other Gods entertained him. After the night, Lord Shiva was very impressed and he showered blessings on them. This made mankind believe that their prayers and offerings will also impress the Lord and he will shower blessings on them.

Mahashivratri in Rajasthan

Mahashivaratri is celebrated with a lot of fanfare in Rajasthan. A large number of devotees observe strict fast on the day. They also believe that an earnest and honest celebration of the festival will give them a respite of al their sins. This festival is mostly celebrated by women of the Hindu community. After fasting for the whole day, they devotedly pray to the God. Married women perform these rituals to pray for the well being of their husbands. Unmarried girls perform these rituals to pray for husband like Lord Shiva.

On this day, Lord Shiva is bathed in milk and honey. They also offer bel leaves and flowers while chanting Om Namay Shivay. Some of the Lord Shibva temples also observe Jaagaran during the whole bight of Mahashivaratri. After day break, the various foods offered to the Lord are eaten by the devotees as ‘prasad’.