Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 17: Maha Shivratri which relates to great night of Lord Shiva was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety all over the State.
While Kashmiri Pandits held night long prayers and pooja in their houses to celebrate the Maha Shivratri festival, thousands of people thronged the Shiv temples across the Jammu region today to offer special prayers on the occasion of Maha Shivratri and paid obeisance to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
Thousands of devotees thronged the Aap Shamboo temple Roop Nagar from early in the morning to participate in the Shivratri festival and offered special prayers on the occasion. There was huge rush of devotees from early in the morning and it swelled in thousands as the day proceeded.
There were huge queues of people waiting for the darshan in front of temple for a long time and the rush continued late up to the night.
Various social and religious organizations had also organized bhandaras to offer prashad to devotees.
Another grand function was held in Dewan Mandir here where a huge rush of devotees was witnessed from early in the morning.
Amidst chanting of religious slogans, Jhankis of Lord Shiva were taken out by the devotees. The temple was highly decorated and special prayers were held on the occasion. The devotees performed Pooja of Lord by offering holy water, flowers, Bel Patri, milk and other things which are dear to Mahadev.
In the temple a grand bhandara was also organized as usual by the social and religious organizations.
Large number of devotees also thronged the Ranbireshwar Temple, Jammu and Shiv temples at Canal road and Tawi bridge to perform special pooja of Lord Shiva on the occasion of Maha Shivratri today.
On the occasion bhandaras and Prashad was served to devotees.
A large number of devotees also thronged the Jamvant Gufa, Peer Khoh in connection with celebration of Maha Shivratri festival on the third day of festival today.
The festival has been organized by Directorate of Tourism Jammu to promote the pilgrimage tourism in the area. Elaborate arrangements were made by the administration for the pilgrims. The ethnic food stalls, fun rides and camel rides are the main attractions of the festival.
A colorful cultural programme based on religious theme was also presented by the artists of J&K Academy of Art, Culture and Languages. MLA Jammu East Rajesh Gupta, Joint Director Tourism, Dr Narupa Rai, Deputy Director Tourism, Vinakshi Koul and other senior officers were present on the occasion.
Maha Shivratri was celebrated at Tri-Murti Mandir Janipur Colony with religious fervour. Thousands of devotees drawn from different parts of Janipur participated in the function. Maha Kalveshwar Maha Aarti was also organized in the temple.
The 10th annual Maha Shivratri-cum-Grameen Mela was held at Khooneshwar Aap Shambu temple, Khoon, Majalta in Udhampur district today.
The mela was inaugurated by MLA Ramnagar, R S Pathania who was the chief guest on the occasion.
The Maha Shivratri-cum-Grameen mela was organized by Destitute and Handicapped Welfare Association (DAHWA) in collaboration with district administration.
Speaking on the occasion Pathania said the festival symbolizes unity in diversity besides providing a common platform to the local people to interact with each other to strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and communal harmony. On the occasion Information Department Udhampur presented a scintillating cultural programme like folk music, folk dance and Dogri songs.
Maha Shivratri was also celebrated across the Chenab Valley. Thousands of devotees thronged the Shiv temples at Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar districts to worship Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
All the Shiv temples of Chenab Valley including Pirsthan Shiv temple Bhadarwah, 12 Jyotiling Shiv temple, Parnalla, Shiv temple Lingha, Shiv temple Nagri Doda, Shiv temple Prem Nagar, Shiv temple Thathri, Shiv temple Kishtwar and Shiv cave Baggar situated at Jammu-Doda National Highway were beautifully decorated with the lights and flowers.
The devotees had started thronging the temples in the wee hours and serpentine queues were seen outside all the temples and people had to wait for their turn for hours.
Over 50,000 devotees from within the State and other parts of the country have paid obeisance at the historic Shiv Khori Shrine in district Reasi during the first two days of Shivratri festival.
The Mela has been organized by Department of Tourism, Shiv Khori Shrine Board and District Administration Reasi jointly.
Keeping in view the heavy influx of pilgrims during the Shivratri festival, district administration Reasi has made adequate necessary arrangements which including security, drinking water, power supply, medicare facilities , sanitation, fire services, etc for facilitating the pilgrims.
A colourful cultural programme at the base camp Ransoo was also organized on 2nd day of mela by District Employment & Counselling Center Reasi witnessed the locals and pilgrims in large number.
Various social and religious organizations have also arranged free langars for the pilgrims at various locations of the base camp and enroute the cave shrine.
Maha Shivratri was also celebrated in Kathua and Samba districts with thousands of devotees thronging the Shiv temples in twin districts.
Thousands of devotees thronged the Pracheen Shiv temple in Billawar and Pracheen Shiv temple in Aiurwan Kathua and Mahanal Jasrota Aap Shamboo temple in Kathua. Besides, there was heavy rush of devotees in Shiv temples of Vijaypur, Ramgarh and Samba on the occasion of Maha Shivratri today.
Maha Shivratri, also known as “Hairath” in Kashmir, was celebrated throughout the Kashmir Valley with religious fervour and gaiety.
The Kashmiri Pandits organised night-long prayers in their houses before visiting Shiv temples since early this morning.
The upper reaches in the Kashmir valley experienced snowfall while plains, received rains during the past 24 hours, which is being considered auspicious for the festival. People believe there is snow or rain on Hairath day. It is said that during Pathan rule, Kashmiri Pandits were asked to celebrate the Hairath festival in June and there was snowfall in June also.
The Shivratri festival extends to about three weeks in Kashmiri Pandit house-holds. Each day, has a special name and religious function which include social performances also. Some of the names are Hurya Akodah, Hurya Aatham, Dyara Daham, Vagarye Bah, Hairch Truvah, Donya Mavas and Tila Aatham.
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