Amid chants of ‘Om Namah Shivay’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’, tens of thousands of devotees thronged temples across the country on Mahashivratri to offer prayers to Lord Shiva and seek his divine blessings.
Uttar Pradesh Celebrations: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath led the celebrations by performing ‘Rudrabhishek’ at the Gorakhnath temple in Gorakhpur. He emphasized that the faith displayed by lakhs of devotees in Prayagraj, Varanasi, and across the country symbolizes India’s unity. In Prayagraj, more than one crore pilgrims took a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam as the 45-day Maha Kumbh neared its closure.
Grand Processions in Varanasi: Varanasi witnessed a spectacular early morning procession led by ‘naga sadhus’ and ‘akharas’ to the Kashi Vishwanath Temple, adorned with lights and flowers. Devotees chanted ‘Har Har Mahadev’ as sadhus, carrying tridents and swords, performed ‘Jalabhishek’. Temple CEO Vishwa Bhushan Mishra assured that arrangements for barricading, water facilities, and crowd management were efficiently in place.
Mass Gatherings in Lucknow and Ayodhya: In Lucknow, devotees queued up outside Shiva temples to offer milk, water, and ‘bel’ leaves to the ‘shivling’. Ayodhya witnessed a massive influx of devotees, with major Shiva temples beautifully illuminated for the occasion. Officials estimated that around 1.5 million devotees had reached Ayodhya by Tuesday, with numbers swelling further on Wednesday.
Reopening of Historic Temple in Sambhal: Prayers were also held at the Kartikeya Mahadev temple in Sambhal, which was reopened after 46 years.
National Leaders Extend Greetings: President Droupadi Murmu greeted citizens on Mahashivratri, wishing continued progress for the nation. In Delhi, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Education Minister Ashish Sood visited temples and extended warm wishes, expressing hopes for prosperity and divine blessings.
Devotee Gatherings in Punjab and Haryana: Devotees thronged Shiva temples in Punjab and Haryana, forming long queues outside prominent shrines. Chief Ministers Nayab Singh Saini (Haryana) and Bhagwant Mann (Punjab) extended their greetings, along with Governors Gulab Chand Kataria and Bandaru Dattatreya.
Tragic Incident in Chhattisgarh: In Surguja district, five Shiva devotees, including three minors, lost their lives in an SUV-truck collision. Locals set the truck ablaze after the driver fled the scene. The victims were returning to Revapur village after offering prayers at a Shiva temple in Kilkila.
Clashes in Jharkhand: In Hazaribag, a violent clash erupted between two groups over the installation of flags and a loudspeaker in front of a school during Mahashivratri celebrations. The dispute escalated into stone-pelting and arson, with multiple two-wheelers set on fire. Authorities have brought the situation under control.
Devotional Festivities in Rajasthan: Long queues of devotees were seen at Shiva temples across Rajasthan, including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Ajmer, Udaipur, Kota, and Sikar. Governor Haribhau Bagde, Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, and former CM Ashok Gehlot extended their greetings.
Festive Spirit in Himachal Pradesh: Thousands of devotees participated in Mahashivratri celebrations across Himachal Pradesh. Mandi, known as ‘Chhoti Kashi,’ was beautifully adorned for the occasion, with large crowds at the Bhutnath Temple. Rituals were also observed at Neelkanth Mahadev Temple in Manali and other shrines across the state.
Nationwide Celebrations: Mahashivratri was celebrated with immense religious fervor in Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, where devotees observed fasts, performed rituals, and gathered in large numbers at Shiva temples across the states.
