INDIA. Mumbai: With the gradual recession of the COVID-19 wave, the Mahashivratri was celebrated in an upbeat mood across the country, including Maharashtra, with devotees offering an Abhishek (a bath with milk), belpatra (leaves of the Bel tree) to Shiva linga (an abstract representation of the Hindu god Shiva) and performing pooja in temples.
The Abhishek symbolizes the purification or cleansing of the idol with milk and usually, and it is customarily conducted on Monday, the day when Shiva saved the moon.
Maha Shivratri (the great night of Shiva) falls on the Chaturdashi Tithi (13th night and 14th day of the New Moon), during Krishna Paksha in the month of Magha as per the Hindu almanac. In India, Mahashivratri symbolizes the marriage of Lord Shiva with Parvati.
The celebration was held in a number of locations, including the old Babulnath Mandir in Girgaum Chowpatty, South Mumbai, where COVID-19 regulations were followed and no one was permitted into the “Garb Griha” (sanctum sanctorium).
In Shiv Ganesh Mandir located at Swami Samarth Nagar in Andheri West, in northwest Mumbai. A moderate crowd of devotees was seen right from Tuesday early morning.
Although surrounded by high rises, the temple has the holy Audumber fig tree, the peepal, and the banyan tree lending the look of a traditional temple. The temple was illuminated and adorned with marigold flowers.
The temple trust is already involved in providing free medical aid like wheelchairs, organizing blood donation camps, etc. Due to this the temple is well known in the area. Trust President Milind Dalvi said that going by past experience a steady stream of devotees is expected till late at night.
The festival was also celebrated with great enthusiasm at the Pipleshwar Shiv Temple located at Jogeshwari caves in North West Mumbai, the Omkareshwar temple in Borivali, at Kopineshwar temple in Thane, and Khidkaleshwar temple in Dombivali near Mumbai.
Mahashivratri was celebrated with all traditional rituals in the historic Trimbakeshwar Temple in Nashik in North Maharashtra. Lord Shiva’s idol was carried around the temple grounds in a palanquin while chants of “Om Namoh Shivay” filled the air. The Mahashivratri was held at Trimbakeshwar temple after a two-year hiatus.
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