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Maha
Shivratri : ( February )
There
is a Legend that on a moonless night in February every year, occurs the
night of Shiva, the destroyer. This is the night when he is said to have
performed the Tandava or the dance of creation, preservation and
destruction.
Devotees
of Shiva fast during the day and maintain a long vigil during the night.
In temples all across the country, bells ring, sacred texts are chanted
and traditional offerings of bilwa
leaves (also called as beel patra) and milk are made to the Shiva
lingam, the phallic symbol of the god.
According
to ancient scriptures, Shiva manifests himself in the form of a huge
flaming lingam known as Jyotirlinga on Shivratri. It is the duty of
every worshipper to worship this
lingam
with at least one bilwa leaf.
To
help the devout keep awake, stories or katha expounding the greatness of
Shiva are organised, devotional hymns and songs sung and sacred texts
recited.
Shiva
is worshipped to release the worshipper from the cycle of birth and
rebirth. In
Kashmir, the festival is held for 15 days; the thirteenth day is
observed as Herath, a day of fast followed by a family feast.
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