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| Mahashivratri celebrated with religious fervour | | Incessant rain fails to prevent swelling devotees | | Mishu Gupta
EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, Mar 2; Even rain was no dampener as residents, high on the religious spirit, thronged temples, illuminated on the occasion of Shivratri.
As the red, crimson and saffron flags erected outside the temples fluttered in the breeze, devotees purchased marigold flowers and ‘bel patra’ from little boys sitting on pavements.
Mahashivratri was today celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety across the State with thousands of devotees thronging the temples of Lord Shiva throughout the day to pay their obeisance.
In Jammu, since wee hours, there was heavy rush of devotees in all the temples of Lord Shiva which were tastefully decorated with flowers and buntings to mark the celebrations of Mahashivratri. The Kashmiri Pandits community which observes Shivratri as the main religious festival, offered prayers last night and celebrated the day extending wishes to relatives, friends and dear ones.
The unprecedented rush of devotees was witnessed in Ranbireshwar Temple, Pir Kho Temple, Panj Bakhtar Temple and Aap Shamboo Temple at Roop Nagar with people standing in long queues waiting for their turn to offer prayers to Lord Shiva.
There was virtually a sea of devotees at Roop Nagar and serpentine queues on both sides of Janipur-Roop Nagar-Bantalab road where stalls of food-items, toys, house-hold articles and flowers were installed which gave a look of ‘mela’ in the area.
The social organisations, societies of various localities as well as individuals had arranged langars for devotees and passers-by in their respective areas and near the Lord Shiva temples, where "Om Namah Shivai", "Har Har Mahadev" and "Bam Bam Bole" continued to rent the atmosphere throughout the day.
Elaborate arrangements were made by the police. Outside each temple, cops were deputed to regulate the traffic.
In colonies and slums, it was a different scene altogether. As speakers chanted bhajans in praise of Lord Shiva, residents danced unmindful of the outer world. Beggars in the city also had a field day. Carrying live snakes with them, they went around parking lots in the city asking for alms in the name of Shivratri.
The festival is accorded much significance in the Hindu culture. "While women and young girls observe a daylong fast, it is also believed that sincere worship of Lord Shiva on this day absolves one of all sins," said Pawan, a student ..
It is said that Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati on Mahashivratri.
Devotees also take out processions to celebrate this holy marriage. A symbolic marriage of Shiva and Parvati is carried out by the priests in the Shiva temples in the evening.
"Another story linked to this day is that Lord Shiva is said to have performed Tandava -- the dance of the primal creation, preservation and destruction," a priest of a north Delhi Shiva temple said.
People offer milk, bilva patra (Bel leaves), Gangajal (Ganga river water), flowers and sweets to Shivalingams on this day.
Among many gods assigned importance in the Hindu religion, Shiva holds a special place for his role in both creation and destruction. "We believe that Lord Shiva blesses all his devotees if they worship him sincerely," said a devotee.
Over 2.27 lakhs pilgrims from with in and out side the state visited the holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva at Shiv Khori for obeisance in district Reasi since January this year so far. This includes over 90 thousands of pilgrims who visited during first two days of Shiv Khori mela commenced from first of March, 2011.
Besides, other facilities by District Administration and Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board have set up two yatri slip counters, cloak room for visiting pilgrims at base camp Ransoo and at holy cave. Proper security arrangement has been made by the Police department to regulate yatra traffic. Moreover the place of parking for heavy vehicles have been created at Kandha short from Ransoo from where mini buses have been pressed into service to avoid congestion on road from Kandha to Ransoo.
Large numbers of langers have been organized at Ransoo and enroute to cave by the people belonging from different places of the state where food and other eatable are being served to the pilgrims for 24 hours.
The Ransoo bazaar gives a festive look with great hustle and bustle. Number of stalls has been put up by the different departments at the base camp for the awareness of general masses about the various Central and State Government schemes.
According to the Mela Officer, Mr. Gopal Singh inspite of continue rain since early hours, the yatra is going on smoothly.
The DDC Reasi Mr. P. K. Pole who is also Vice Chairman of Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board also visited at Ransoo and took stock of the facilities provided to the visiting pilgrims. Later he offered prayer at the holy cave of Lord Shiva at Shiv Khori.
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