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| Bhalla pays obeisance at various temples | | |
EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, Feb 12
Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Raman Bhalla today visited various temples at Roop Nagar, Shalimar, Panj Mandir, Channi Himmat & Jai Nag Devta and paid obeisance there.
He prayed for peace and prosperity of the state.
While addressing the devotees gathered on the occasion, Minister threw light on the rich traditions of Mahashivratri adding that the festival is celebrated with devotion and religious fervor throughout the country. He said these celebrations began with the break of Shivratri day and continues during the whole night. He said the devotees observe fast and spend the day worshiping Lord Shiva.
Bhalla said that many worshippers celebrate the festival in the jaagrans organized at various Shiva temples across the country. Devotees believe that sincere observance of Shivaratri puja and the night long worship of Lord Shiva will absolve them of all their sins and liberate their souls from the cycle of birth and death, he maintained.
He said that after the ritual bath, preferably in the sacred waters of River Ganga, devotees pay a visit to the nearest Lord Shiva temple carrying the traditional puja items like milk, water, bel leaves, fruits, incense stick and oil lamp with them.
On this occasion, Shiva temples witness huge rush of devotees. Long queues can be seen as devotees, mostly women, wait for their turn to perform puja. Since, bathing of Shiva Lingam with milk is part of the Shivaratri Puja tradition; little rivers are formed due to the excessively overflowing milk and fruit in the Shiva temples on this day.
Ritual worship of Shiva Lingam is done by temple priests every three hours all through the day and night of Shivaratri Festival.
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