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| Maha Shivratri celebrated with enthusiasm, fervour | | | Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 27: Maha Shivratri festival, which literally translates to "great night of Shiva" was celebrated with great enthusiasm and religious fervour across the State today
Right from early in the morning huge rush of devotees was witnessed at various shrines and temples of Lord Shiva. Amidst chanting of religious slogans (Jaikaras) of Lord Shiva the devotees thronged highly decorated temples and shrines and offered special prayers. They also offered holy water, flowers, Bel Patri and other things, which are dearer to 'Mahadev'.
Thousands of people thronged the ancient shrine of Peer Kho at the bank of river Tawi in Jammu and offered special prayers on this auspicious day. The shrine was highly decorated for the last two days and administration had made elaborate arrangements for the smooth flow of traffic and for security and safety of devotees and other people visiting the shrine. Loud speakers chanting Bhajans and 'Jaikaras' continued renting the air through-out the day.
Massive rush of devotees was also observed at 'Aap Shambu' temple at Roop Nagar in Jammu. Since early in the morning, long queues of devotees including women and children were witnessed thronging there. The people carrying buckets and other pots of 'Jal' (water) and flowers etc visited the shrine to offer special prayers to get blessings of Lord Shiva. The police men and women were deployed there to regulate the rush of people.
Reports from Reasi said that huge rush of pilgrims/ devotees was witnessed at Shiv Khori shrine in Pouni block since yesterday. Over one lakh devotees from within and various parts of the country have paid obeisance at the historic Shiv Khori Shrine nested in Shivalik hills of District Reasi during first two mela days of Maha Shivratri Festival.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Shantmanu, who is also Chairman Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board visited the cave shrine and paid obeisance on the auspicious occasion of Shivratri and prayed for the peace and prosperity of the state.
Praying for eternal peace and tranquility of the state, Shantmanu said that all efforts are being made for the promotion and beautification of Shri Shiv Khori Shrine, which is now by all measures emerging as an important pilgrimage destination in Jammu region after Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
Shantmanu said that administration is committed to develop the entire pilgrim tourism destination circuit in the state and special efforts are being placed to provide basic facilities to the pilgrims for comfortable pilgrimage. A comprehensive tourist circuit connecting various destinations having tourism potential is being chalked out, he added.
The Mela is being jointly organized by State Tourism Department, Shiv Khori Shrine Board and civil Administration Reasi.
The shrine cave emerging as the second famous religious destination after Shri Mata Vaishano Devi in the Reasi district witnessed huge rush of pilgrims during the 2nd day of the Mela. Keeping in view the heavy flow of pilgrims during this Shivratri festival, the administration Reasi has made all elaborate necessary arrangements which include security, drinking water, power supply, Medicare facilities with ambulance, sanitation, fire services, yatra slip counter etc.
As a part of Shivratri festival, a colourful cultural programme by the department of information and public relations at the base camp at Ransoo was also organized on the 2nd day of the mela. The programme mainly based on the Shiv Mahima and state folk was witnessed by large number of pilgrims.
Among others, Additional deputy commissioner Reasi Rajinder Singh Tara, senior officers from civil administration, pilgrims in large number and local were present on the occasion. Various social and religious organizations have arranged free langers for the visiting pilgrims at various locations of the base camp and enroute the cave shrine.
Great rush of devotees was also seen at Purmandal and Utterbehni shrines today. Majority of the people visiting these shrines belonged to Samba and Jammu district. Similar reports of celebrations have received from Kathua, Billawar, Basohli and parts of district Samba. In Akhnoor town massive rush of devotees was witnessed at historical Kameshwar temple and Pandavas cave at the bank of river Chenab and paid their obeisance. The temples were decorated befitting to the occasion to facilitate the devotees. The devotees offered prayers to God Shiv Shanker and His family members Mata Parvati, sons Ganesha and Kartikay to seek their blessings. Minister for PHE, I&FC Sham Lal Sharma also participated in the festival there and performed special Pooja. He also addressed the religious gathering there.
Mahashivratri an auspicious and important festival of Hindus, especially for the devotees of Lord Shiva, which is also known as Hearath in local parlance, was Thursday celebrated across Valley with religious fervor and devotion.
Muslims were seen greeting their Pandit friends and neighbors.
The day has an importance for Hindus in general and for Kashmiri Pandits in particular with the festival being observed with special distinction here.
Meanwhile, Maha Shivratri was celebrated by117 Battalion, CRPF jawans stationed at Wazirbagh, Srinagar to bring peace, prosperity, happiness and success in the endeavors of members of the force and people of the area. Officiating Commandant N.Kumawat, all officers and Jawans commenced the celebrations with an Akhand Path followed by Hawan Yagya and Purna Ahuti. |
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