The auspicious day of the Maha Shivratri festival is celebrated across India and Nepal with pomp and splendour. The Maha Shivratri Festival falls on the new moon day of Maagha month of the Hindu calendar, which falls on February in the Gregorian calendar. During this day, grand poojas are performed in the Abode of Lord Shiva. Devotees observe fast and stay vigil all night to invoke the blessings of the Great God. Poojas are conducted during the four praharas according to the Mahashivaratri Vidhi.
Devotees celebrate Maha Shivaratri Festival by visiting Shiva temples to participate in the pooja, taking a dip in the holy tank and seeking the blessings of God. Shiva is worshipped in different names across the length and breadth of the country. Depending on where you are located, you can find a famous temple to perform your rituals. Do check out –Dindigad Shiva Mandir Bhiwandi – The Manchester of India
If you want to travel to some renowned abode of the Lord, then go ahead and read on. The Holy Abodes of Lord Shiva gives you the experience of being in bliss
#1. Nilkanth Mahadev Temple in Haridwar, Uttarakhand
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Maha Shivratri Festival is the time when you take a dip in the holy ghats. Prayers are offered at the Har ki Pauri. The devotees flock to visit Nilkanth Mahadev to do yoga and venture into adventure sports. There are many more temples in Rishikesh to quench your spiritual thirst.
#2. Umananda Temple in Guwahati, Assam
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Maha Shivratri Festival is celebrated at the Umananda temple in the North-east. Situated in the peacock island on the Brahmaputra River, the temple witnesses thousands of devotees during the festival period to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva.
#3. Bhavnath Taleti in Junagadh, Gujarat
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Gir National Park is not a tourist destination alone but also a pilgrimage delight. Sadhus have made the Gir forest their home. The Shivratri Mela is celebrated in Junagadh, where thousands gather to experience a divine revelation. The Shivratri Mela starts five days before the festival and ends on Maha Shivratri day.
#4. Matangeshwar Temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
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The Maha Shivratri celebrations are not complete without a dip in the holy ghat. At the Matangeshwar Temple, devotees go to the Sagar Tank for the holy bath. Here, it is a 10 day fair, and people from all walks of life and age groups visit the place to seek the blessings of Shiva for happiness and success in life.
#5. Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh
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There are 12 Jyortirlings globally; among them, one is located at the Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain by the River Kshipra. The story behind the Jyortirling goes like this; the residents of Avanti (present-day Ujjain) were harassed by a demon called Dushane. Four brahmana brothers bowed in front of the Linga, seeking divine intervention in bringing an end to their agony. Happy with their obeisance, the Lord appeared before them and killed the demon. At the brothers’ request, Shiva agreed to stay in Mahakala, and here people worship him in the form of Jyotirlinga. The auspicious day of the Maha Shivratri festival is commemorated with opulence.
#6. Srisaila Mallikarjuna Temple in Andhra Pradesh
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The Hindus celebrate the Mahashivratri festival; particularly, the Shaivaiites have a special meaning attached when celebrated in temples. Devotees throng the temples during the Maha Shivratri Festival to seek the divine blessings of Lord Shiva. The Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple in Andhra Pradesh, which houses the 12 Jyortirlings, is the temple that several devotees visit on this auspicious day. Puranas have it that Lord Shiva and Parwati were wedded here.
#7. Bhootnath Temple in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
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Bhootnath Temple is located in a small town called Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. The Mahashivratri festival is lavishly hosted in this temple every year. Folklore has it that the imperial family of Mandi instigated a custom nearly five centuries ago, according to which the Maha Shivratri Festival fair is held for a week. This 5-century long custom still holds good in Mandi, and people not only from India but from across the globe visit this fair every year. Throughout the week, the town celebrates the arrival of local deities on intricately decorated palanquins, which is a feast for the eyes.
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#8. Tilbhandeshwar Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
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The Tilbhandeshwar Temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, is one of the most auspicious places to celebrate the Maha Shivratri Festival. As it is dedicated to Lord Shiva, people from various parts of the world visit this place to seek the divine blessings of the lord on Mahashivaratri. The day is celebrated with dance processions on the streets. Believed to be constructed in the 18th century, this temple is located in Pandey Haveli, next to Bengali Tola Inter College.
#9. Lokanatha Temple in Puri, Odisha
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There is a strong belief that the Shiva Linga was mounted in the Lokanatha Temple by Lord Rama. Celebrating the Mahashivratri at the Lokanatha Temple, in Puri, Odisha, is extremely divine as the devotees will get the darshan of the Linga, which is kept immersed in water for the entire year and taken out for the public’s darshan just 3 days before Mahashivratri. The festival is celebrated with great pomp and fervour.
#10. Shree Somanath Jyotirlinga Temple in Veraval, Gujarat
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Shree Somanath Jyotirlinga Temple, located in Veraval, Gujarat, is the first of the 12 Jyotirlingas temples. The temple was built at the shore of the Arabian ocean on the western corner of the Indian subcontinent. The Mahashivratri is celebrated here, with the devotees thronging for a darshan of the Linga. During the Maha Shivratri Festival, the entire temple is decorated with lights and flowers, which is surely a treat for the eyes.
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Another noteworthy destination to celebrate the brilliance of the Lord is the Isha Yoga Center, located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. It was founded by Indian Yogi, and author Sadhguru is located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The temple is synonymous with its 112-feet steel statue of Lord Shiva. Here, there would be dance and music performances by top artists that will be the cynosure of all eyes. The night-long Satsang on the Maha Shivratri Festival is world-renowned.
On the Mahashivratri day across the country, a large congregation of devotees, including leading politicians, actors, bureaucrats, and others, gathers to celebrate the festival with devotion and jubilance.
Must Read: World’s Second Tallest Shiva Statue at Shri Murudeshwar Temple
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Really enjoyed this post.Really thank you! Keep writing.