23 Feb : Maha Shivratri is being celebrated with religious ferver and enthusiasm across the country on Monday.In Uttar Pradesh, large numbers of pilgrims have reached at Allahabad to take holy dip at Sangam the confluence of river Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Saraswati.
The administration has estimated that nearly five lakhs devotees will take holy dip on this occasion.The administration and police have made adequate arrangements for security for peaceful celebration of bathing on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri.
At several places including Allahabad, Varanasi, Chitrakoot, Ayodhya, Mathura and Naimisharanya temples and places of worships have been decorated nicely with flowers and lights.
Massive security arrangements have been made in and around at famous Kashi Vishwanath temple, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas in the country, at Varanasi and temples at Mathura, Ayodhya and Chitrakoot.
In Gujarat, the State’s largest and traditional folk fair of Maha Shivratri is on its peek in the foot hills of mount Girnar near Junagarh.A procession of Naga Babas will be taken out in the foot-hills of mount Girnar at mid night tonight.
In Madhya Pradesh, the festival of Mahashivratri is being celebrated with religious fervor through out the state. The state is home to two Jyotirlingas, Mahakaleshwar and Onkareshwar.
In Maharashtra, Maha Shivratri is being celebrated throughout the State on Monday.
People observe strict fast on this day and stay awake throughout the night. Thousands of devotees are visiting the temple of lord Shiva to take the blessings.
Long queues can be seen outside the famous temples of Babulnath and Ambernath in Mumbai. For peaceful celebrations of Maha Shivratri, Security has been stepped up in various parts of Mumbai city.
In Jammu and Kashmir the three day Maha Shivratri festival began at Shiv Khori in Reasi district of Jammu from on Sunday.
Minister for Tourism and Culture Mr. Nawang Rigzin Jora inaugurated the Mela at Base Camp, Ransoo, nearly 130 kms from Jammu.
Thousands of devotees visited the holy cave at Shiv Khori shrine on the first day of the mela on Sunday.
The three-day Mela is being organized by State Tourism Department, in collaboration with Shiv Khori Shrine Board.
Shiv Khori is the third holy shrine revered by large number of pilgrims after Shri Amarnathji and Mata Vaishno Devi shrines.
Elaborate arrangements have been made by the administration to facilitate the yatris during the Mela days.