| Maha Shivratri celebrated with religious fervor, gaiety across J&K | | | 
eARLY TIMES rEPORT
jAMMU, Mar 11: Maha Shivratri, the great night of Lord Shiva, was celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety across J&K UT today with thousands of devotees thronging the various temples in Jammu region and Kashmir valley from early this morning.
Maha Shivratri known as `Herath’ was celebrated with traditional zeal and devotion by Kashmiri Pandits after performing night long Pooja of Lord Shiva and his consort Goddess Parvati during the last night.
Throughout the UT in general and Jammu region in particular, all the temples of Lord Shiva were fully decorated and illuminated with buntings and colorful lights by the devotees. The welcome gates were also erected in front of Shiv temples to greet the devotees who visited there on the auspicious occasion to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva.
In Jammu, highest rush of devotees was seen at Aap Shambu temple, Roop Nagar and Ranbireshwar temple, Shalamar. Besides, the heavy rush of devotees was also seen in other Shiv temples like Peer Kho where a three day long Shivratri Mela is also underway, Shiv temples at Tawi bridge, Canal road and other parts of the City. The social and religious organizations organised Bhandaras to offer ‘Prashad’ to devotees at various places in Jammu city and outskirts.
The authorities had made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims. A big contingent of police and CRPF was deployed for the security purposes. The devotees were seen offering milk, Ghee, Bel leaves and water to Shivlingam and chanting Vedic mantras for peace and well being of humanity.
Thousands of devotees also visited Ranbireshwar temple in heart of the city today to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva. There was heavy rush in the temple and devotees were seen waiting in long queues for the darshan and offer prayers.
Large number of devotees thronged the Kameshwar temple and other temples in Akhoor to offer prayers to Lord Shiva today.
The holy festival of Maha Shivratri was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across the Ramban district today along with other parts of the country.
Maha Shivratri, which literally translates to ‘Great Night of Shiva’ is a Hindu festival largely celebrated on the new moon day in the month of Maagha according to Hindu calendar.
On the occasion, all the temples were specially decorated and witnessed huge rush of the devotees from early morning. A Shiv Shobha Yatra was also taken out in which President, Maha Shivratri Celebration Committee, Ramban, Kunal Magotra, and various religious and political leaders besides prominent citizens participated.
The Yatra started from Pracheen Shiv Mandir, Maitra and passed through areas including Govind Pura Maitra, Boli Bazaar and Main Bazaar before culminating at Ragunath Mandir.The District and Police administration had made necessary security and other arrangements for the convenience of devotees. People of different communities besides devotees including men, women and children standing alongside the Shobha Yatra route welcomed the Yatra.
Langer was also organised by the Snatan Dharm Sabha at Maitra and by the locals at Rampant
Tholy festival of Maha Shivratri, also known as the ‘Great night of Lord Shiva, was today observed by the devotees across Kishtwar & Doda District with much fervour.
As per the religious scholars, it is celebrated on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of the Magha month, as per the Hindu lunar calendar, and marks the night of the marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
However, amid the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, there are several restrictions and guidelines put in place to ensure the safety of the devotees offering prayers on the holy day in various temples.
On this occasion, the priests at various temples in Kishtwar and Doda Districts offered prayers and performed ‘abhishek’ of Lord Shiva on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.
Following the traditional rituals, priests were seen offering milk and honey to ‘Shivling,’ an iconic representation of Shiva- one of the deities of the Hindu triumvirate.
Thousands of devotees from across adjoining districts today throng Shiv Khori temple to pay obeisance amid Mahashivratri celebration.
Dressed in colourful attires, men women and children were seen visiting the religious place and taking part in the special prayers organised to mark the auspicious occasion.
The visitors were seen enjoying local cuisine at the food stalls put up en-route the temple Shrine.
Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner, Poonch Rahul Yadav, accompanied by several other officers, also visited the Shiv Khori Temple and sought the blessings of lord Shiva.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Poonch, Ramesh Angral, ADC, Dr Basharat Hussain and other senior officers also accompanied the Deputy Commissioner.
The Management Committee of Mandir warmly welcomed and greeted the team of officers of District Administration Poonch.
The Mahashivratri, the marriage anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma, which is most important festival of the Kashmiri pandits “Herath” was on Thursday celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety in the Kashmir valley, where devotees prayed for peace and prosperity.
The members of the community were seen visiting temples, particularly Shankaracharya on the hill top of Takhat-e-Suliman, since early this morning to pay obeisance.
Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, P K Pole also joined the prayers at Shakaracharya temple alongwith other devotees despite rain since early this morning.
Pole said after paying obeisance greeted people on the occasion on Herath and Shab-e-Meraj, being celebrated tonight by the members of Muslim community throughout the Kashmir valley. “I and other devotees prayed for peace and prosperity in the valley,” Mr Pole said.
After joining night-long puja in their respective houses, people this morning visited temples, particularly associated with Shivji, in the valley, including Srinagar.
People were seen greeting each other on the occasion of ‘Salaam’, a Persian word for greeting after night long prayers. Muslims and members of other communities also greeted their Kashmiri pandit brethren who didn’t migrated along with other community members in 90s or have returned back here.
The Shivratri festival extends to about three weeks in Kashmiri Pandits’ households and each day or a group of days has a special name and religious function which include social performances also.Some of the names are Akodah, Hurya Aatham, Dyara Daham, Vagarye Bah, Heracnia Truvah, Donya Mavas and Tila Aatham. On each day they have different functions.
The Mahashivratri festival, observed as ‘Herath’ by Kashmiri Pandits on the marriage anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma, begins on the first day of Phalgun Krishna Paksha and ends on the Amavasi day in Phalgun. In between, there are numerous auspicious days like Hur Ashtami.
Walnuts, whose shape represents the universe, play an important part in ‘Herath’ rituals. Walnuts are filled in earthen pots and then filled with water. The water is changed every day of the festivals. A big earthen pot, two medium sized earthern pot, two small earthen pot, clay modelled to the shape of elephant trunk and seven bowls are used in the Hairath ritual and they are known as ‘watuk’.
The ‘watuk’ represents Shiva, Parvati, Ganesha, Sapta Rishis and other deities. Fasting is observed on the important puja day and it comes to an end at night. The rituals come to an end on the Amavasi day, which follows Shivratri. The puja items, flowers and pots are immersed in rivers. Walntus are distributed as ‘prasad’.
There are various interesting legends related to the festival of Mahashivaratri. According to one of the most popular legends, Shivaratri marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvati.
Some believe that it was on the auspicious night of Shivaratri that Lord Shiva performed the ‘Tandava’, the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction. Another popular legend states that Lord Shiva manifested himself in the form of a Linga. Hence, the day is considered to be extremely auspicious by Shiva devotees and they celebrate it as Mahashivaratri - the grand night of Shiva.
People believe that there is snow or rain on ‘Hairath’ day. It is said that during Pathan rule, Kashmiri pandits were asked to celebrate the ‘Herath’ festival in June and there was snowfall.
The day after Mahashivaratri night-long Puja, is called salaam, a Persian word for greeting. It is a day of fun and feasting, a sort of Thanksgiving Day when relatives, friends and colleagues would exchange greetings. The poor would visit Hindu homes and take their share of Shivaratri gifts in cash or kind or both as the case may be.
Shivaratri puja is also called ‘watuk puja’. ‘Watuk’ is a Kashmiri word meaning ‘collection or an assemblage of different objects’. Since the main puja on Shivaratri day involves collection of a large number of articles, it was given the name ‘watuk’.
They also worship watuk Bhairav, supposed to be Shiva’s most trusted dwarpal (gate-keeper). In Kashmiri Pandit Community, it is customary for the women-folk, the old and young alike, to visit their parental home and return to their in-laws with some money as token of love which in Kashmiri language is called ‘atagat’ and fire-pot (kangri), considered to be a good omen on this occasion.
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