New Delhi/Jharkhand (IANS): Mahashivratri was celebrated with immense devotion and spiritual fervour across the country as lakhs of devotees thronged prominent Shiva temples from the early hours on Sunday.
In Baba Baidyanath Dham, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas, an overwhelming number of devotees gathered to offer prayers at the Baba Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple. Long queues of worshippers were seen since early morning, patiently waiting for darshan on the auspicious occasion.
“Today marks the sacred day of Mahashivratri, which coincides with the 13th day of Chaturdashi. Devotees celebrate the auspicious wedding of Baba Baidyanath and Mata Parvati,” a priest told IANS, adding that the grand night procession at Baidyanath Dham attracts lakhs of devotees every year.
Across the country, similar scenes of devotion unfolded at major pilgrimage sites. In Maharashtra, devotees gathered at the historic Aundha Nagnath Temple to seek darshan of Lord Nageshwar and participate in special rituals.
In Uttar Pradesh, large crowds assembled at the Sangam ghats in Prayagraj for the final bathing day of the Magh Mela, which coincided with Mahashivratri. Magh Mela Officer Rishi Raj said nearly 10 lakh devotees had taken the holy dip since the previous night.
Devotees also flocked to the sacred Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi for Baba Vishwanath’s darshan. One devotee said, “We had arrived at midnight and received darshan between 4:30 and 5:00 A.M.”
DCP Gaurav Banswal said lakhs of devotees had arrived and arrangements were made to facilitate orderly darshan. “Due to the large crowd, queues have been organised. Barricades have been set up along the ghats, and supervision is being carried out from boats,” he said.
Officials ensured elaborate arrangements to manage the turnout. SDM Shambhu Sharan said there was tremendous enthusiasm among devotees in Kashi, with long queues forming in the temple courtyard since early morning.
In Madhya Pradesh, the sacred Bhasma Aarti was performed at the renowned Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, amid chants and elaborate rituals. A priest said celebrations of Shiv Navratri and Mahashivratri were being observed with deep devotion in the temple premises.
At Raisen Fort, Tehsildar Bharat Mandare informed that the gates of Someshwar and Mahadev temples were opened at 6 A.M. under administrative supervision to facilitate smooth darshan and prevent inconvenience to devotees.
In Rajasthan, a large number of devotees visited the Saipau Mahadev Temple to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion.
Mahashivratri, one of the most significant Hindu festivals, marks the worship of Lord Shiva and commemorates the divine union of Shiva and Parvati. Across states, the festival was observed with spiritual enthusiasm, elaborate security arrangements, and seamless crowd management as devotees celebrated the sacred occasion with unwavering faith.
