Nagpur: The early morning calm will become more peaceful and holy as Lord Shiva’s devotees offer prayers and panchamrut (a mixture of five ingredients) amid the scent of essence sticks at the temples today on Mahashivratri’s Holy day. Temples of Lord Shiva throughout the city were designed to welcome devotees lined up to offer prayers.
Temples and their surroundings in the city are covered in celebration colours, as devotees and Shiv bhakts will give’ abhishek’ and pujas to pray and witness. Devotees stay awake on the darkest night of the year, offering prayers, conducting rituals, and paying obeisance to Lord Shiva.
Nikhil Tandulkar, a sevak at the city’s Prachin Shiv Mandir, shared his excitement about the holy festival, “Our temple is very ancient, and has a special place in the devotees ‘ hearts. The puja begins at the temple at around four in the morning, followed by Rudra-Abhishek and aarti. “Shivlakhan Solkar, another sevak at a nearby Shiv Mandir, said,” Devotees look forward to attending the abhishek, we give Shiva’s pind bhasm, leaves, flowers, and chandan.
We have prepared well for prasad, as thousands of devotees come every year. “Devotees fast and pray to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. We soak the Shiva Linga with milk and flowers while conducting abhishek. “The Shiv lingam or pind is bathed in the temple with a cow’s five sacred offerings, called the’ panchagavya’— milk, sour milk, sweat, butter, and dung. We decorated the premises with flowers and built railings so that devotees may come in a proper queue to offer prayers, “said Dinesh Pedliwar, member of the Shiv Mandir Panch committee.
Shivratri has a special significance for the town and surrounding areas, as there were a large number of temples in Nag. Nandu Sontakke, from Shiv Mandir, Katol Street, clarified the day’s religious significance and provided a glimpse of the delicious feast that will be distributed to the devotees.
“Of this religious day, people feel inner peace and calm after visiting the temple. We’ll feed the devotees with rabdi, halwa, beans, and other prasad. Like every year, the temple expects a footfall of over 10,000 devotees. And each one at the celebration will be an equal partner, “he said.
Besides the beautifully decorated temples, people always celebrate Mahashivratri with great enthusiasm at home. “We sell the linga bel Patra, three in numbers and flowers. Later, members of the family get together to chant’ Maha mrutunjay jap.’ It fills up the house with energy and positivity, “said law student Akshata Nakshine.
