Shivratri celebrated with religious fervour, gaiety
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Mar 11: Maha Shivratri was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across Jammu and Kashmir today with lakhs of devotees thronging the Shiv temples to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva.
Heavy rush of devotees was reported from holy shrine of Shiv Khori in Reasi district where two -day long Maha Shivratri festival started yesterday. Over two lakh devotees drawn from different parts of country paid obeisance in the ancient cave of Lord Shiva during last two days up to 6 pm today while hundreds were still waiting in long queues for darshan till last reports came in.
The Shiv Khori cave is emerging as second religious destination in the Jammu region after holy Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Katra town of Reasi district. Keeping in view the heavy rush of pilgrims, the district administration Reasi had made elaborate arrangements for them including their security, drinking water, power supply, medicare facilities with ambulances, sanitization, fire service and also established a yatra slip counter.
On the second day of Mela today, a colorful cultural programme was also organised at Ransoo, Reasi. The Mela focused on Shiv Mahima (significance) and UT folk was witnessed by the pilgrims. In addition to it, heavy rush of devotees was witnessed today at Baba Dhansar, Kansi Patta, Salal Shiv cave, Mahadev Mandir Reasi and other shrines in the district.
Despite the COVID restrictions there was a heavy rush in the other Shiv temples of Jammu province as well as in Shankracharya temple of Kashmir valley situated on a hillock in Sringar city. Hundreds of devotees from different parts of country despite cold weather and downpour thronged the temple from early in the morning which had been constructed by Shankaracharya who as per common belief is stated was the incarnation of Lord Shiva.
The shrine was also decorated with multi coloured lights befitting the occasion. The authorities had also made special transport facilities for the devotees. Early in the morning, a Rudhra Maha Abhishek of Lord Shiva was performed in the holy temple which was followed by a Hawan. Later, prayers were held for the peace of all those people who lost their lives due to deadly COVID.
In Jammu city, the biggest congregation of devotees was seen in Aap Shamboo temple, Roop Nagar here where devotees from different parts of city and outskirts had made a beelinefrom early in the morning. The rush continued up to late in the night. The authorities had made elaborate arrangements for the devotees.
There was also a huge jam on the Janipur -Bantalab road right from Buta Nagar to Chinore Chowk due to heavy rush of pilgrims. As per the official reports, about 80,000 pilgrims performed darshan at the holy temple by 6 pm while hundreds were still waiting in queues.
Heavy rush of devotees was seen at Ranbireshwar temple Jammu also where hundreds of people were seen waiting in queues. The people performed ‘Jal Abhisheik’ of Lord Shiva on the occasion and they also offered milk and flowers to Shivlingam.
Thousands of devotees drawn from different parts of city and outskirts thronged the Peer Kho temple (cave) in Old City here from early in the morning to perform darshan and participate in pooja -archana of Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati.
The devotees also thronged the Shiv temples at Tawi bridge, Canal Road and Kameshwar temple in Akhnoor and other temples and participated in ‘Pooja -Archana’ besides paying obeisance to Lord.
Reports reaching here from Kathua district said that thousands of devotees paid darshan in temples of Lord Shiva and Lord Shiva’s caves there. The devotees were seen standing in long queues waiting for their turn to pay obeisance in the Maha Baleshwar temple in Billawar an ancient shrine dating back to Pandav period. Besides, large number of devotees also paid obeisance in ancient cave Mahanaal in Dhani Bakhta area of Kathua district. Hundreds of devotees took a holy dip and offered prayers at Arya temple at Nagri Kathua and offered prayers there.
Large number of devotees visited the ancient shrine of Lord Shiva at Sudhmahadev in Chenani tehsil of Udhampur district and paid obeisance there.
As per reports, a large number of devotees also visited the ancient Shiv temple at Bhaderwah to perform prayers and pay obeisance.
On the occasion of Maha Shivratri, the devotees as per tradition organised bhandaras in different places to offer prashad to the people.
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