India witnessed fervent celebrations of Mahashivratri on Monday as millions of devotees thronged Shiva temples across the country to offer prayers and seek divine blessings. Mahashivratri, a sacred festival observed in the Hindu month of Phalgun, marks the remembrance of Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities of Hinduism.
In Jammu and Kashmir, the historic Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar saw a steady stream of worshippers throughout the day. Perched atop a hill overlooking the city, the ancient shrine became a focal point of spiritual activity. Devotees offered prayers and sought blessings for the well‑being of their families and the world.
Nearby in Riyasi district, the Shivkhori cave shrine attracted long queues of devotees waiting patiently for darshan of the naturally formed Shivling inside the cave. The atmosphere was filled with chants and devotional songs as worshippers paid homage.
In Uttarakhand, the revered Tapkeshwar Mahadev Temple in Dehradun saw devotees lining up since late night. Many offered milk and holy water to the Shiva linga as part of the traditional rituals. Local residents described the occasion as a major festival and expressed their devotion through continuous prayer.
The holy city of Haridwar also experienced significant footfall, with devotees lining up from early morning at the Daksheshwar Mahadev Temple in Kankhal. Devotees performed sacred rituals, including abhishekam (ritual bathing of the deity) and recitation of mantras, as part of their observance of Mahashivratri.
In Haryana’s Karnal town, a queue stretching nearly two kilometres formed outside a historic Shiva temple in Sarafa Bazar. The long lines reflected the deep faith and enthusiasm among devotees celebrating the festival.
The national capital witnessed sizeable gatherings as well. In Janakpuri, thousands of devotees offered holy water at a towering Shiva idol. Meanwhile, at the ancient Gauri Shankar Temple in Chandni Chowk, rituals continued throughout the day as worshippers thronged the historic shrine.
In Rajasthan’s Jaipur, devotees visited the Jharkhand Mahadev Temple, seeking blessings for health and prosperity. The temple premises were crowded with worshippers offering flowers and performing prayers.
A unique centre of attraction was seen in Gujarat’s Valsad district, where a 31‑foot‑tall Shivling made of 3.1 million Rudraksha beads was unveiled. Constructed over approximately 45,000 hours of devotion by artisan Batukbhai Vyas, the massive Rudraksha Shivling drew devotees from across India and abroad, becoming a notable highlight of the celebrations.
In Odisha, the revered Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar experienced massive crowds, with devotees waiting for hours to have darshan of the deity. Pilgrims from neighbouring districts joined the celebrations, chanting devotional hymns and performing rituals amidst a highly spiritual ambience.
Elaborate arrangements were also made at the Jagannath Temple in Puri, where authorities ensured smooth movement of devotees. Measures included traffic regulation, medical emergency tents, and designated prayer areas to accommodate the large influx.
In South India, historic shrines witnessed significant participation. In Telangana, the Thousand Pillar Temple and other Shiva temples saw large gatherings. In Andhra Pradesh’s Vijayawada, devotees took a holy dip in the Krishna River before visiting temples. Bengaluru’s Kadu Maleshwara Temple also attracted worshippers who came to observe the auspicious occasion.
Mahashivratri celebrations across the country highlighted the widespread devotion to Lord Shiva and the cultural unity in observance of this important Hindu festival.
