Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 27: Along with other parts of the country, the festival of Maha Shivratri was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety, here today across Jammu.
People of different age groups, including children, young and elders, thronged the temples for paying obeisance to Lord Shiva and offering water on the holy Shivlingam. The devotees especially offered Bael and Bael Patri (Golden Apple and its leaves) to Lord Shiva amidst chanting of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’.
For the occasion, special arrangements were made in all the Shiv temples, particularly Ranbireshwar temple near Shalamar, Aap Shambu at Roop Nagar, Peerkhoo shrine at Circular Road, etc where heavy rush of devotees was witnessed throughout the day since last midnight.
The devotees, including men, women and children, were seen waiting in serpentine queues for their turn to reach near the Shivlingam for paying obeisance and offering water with flowers.
The temples were beautifully decorated and illuminated with buntings and fancy lights.
To facilitate the devotees, the administration had also made elaborate arrangements besides ensuring adequate security around the temples to ensure peaceful and incident free religious celebrations.
Individuals and organizations had organized Bhandaras near temples and bazaars where people were served sweets and light refreshment. Devotees also observed fast today.
In Akhnoor, devotees from different parts of Jammu thronged at historic Kameshwar temple to pay obeisance and offering special prayers. Minister for PHE, Irrigation & Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma also visited the temple and offered prayers for the peace and prosperity of people of the State.
The temple management committee had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth darshan, drinking water, free langar, medicare etc for the devotees.
On the occasion of Maha Shivratri, a Grameen Mela was organized at Khooneshwar Aap Sambu Temple, Khoon, Majalta in Udhampur here today.
The Maha Shivratri Mela, organized by Destitute And Handicapped Welfare Association (DAHWA) in collaboration with District Administration Udhampur, was inaugurated by ACR Udhampur N S Jamwal.
During the Mela, scintillating cultural programmes like folk music, folk dances and Dogri songs were presented by the artists of Information Department Udhampur and Jammu.
Maha Shivratri was also celebrated with fervour across the Chenab Valley where devotees thronged various temples, including famous Gupat Ganga Bhadarwah temple of Lord Shiva, Pirsthan Shiv temple Bhadarwah, 12 Jyotirling Shiv temple Parnalla, Shiv temple Nagari Doda, Shive temple Prem Nagar, Shiv Temple Thathri, Shiv temple Kishtwar, Shiv cave Baggar on Jammu- Doda road..
All these temples were beautifully decorated with lights and flowers. Devotees had started thronging the temples in the wee hours.
At Ramban, a large number of devotees gathered at the premises of Shiv Mandir Maitra to celebrate the Mahashivratri. A procession was also taken out with tableaux decorated on vehicles depicting Shiv Barat. The procession visited main locations and temples of the town. The devotees were chanting the holy name of Bhagavan Shankar Ji and also singing devotional songs.
Shiv Sevaks and devotees including men, women and children enroute welcomed the Yatra by showering flowers over the procession. A langar was also arranged by the Sanatan Dharm Sabha Maitra.
Reports from Kathua and Samba districts said that the occasion of Maha Shivratri marked huge rush of devotees in the temples, particularly historic Shiv temple of Billawar, famous Narsinghdev temple, Naag Mandir in Mansar etc.
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