Mahashivratri celebrated with religious zeal across J&K

Srinagar, Feb 18 : Maha Shivratri, locally known as Herath, was on Saturday celebrated with religious zeal and enthusiasm in Jammu and Kashmir with devotees in large numbers thronging the temples across both the regions.
Across Jammu devotees thronged Lord Shiva temples right since early morning.As part of Shivratri celebrations, the devotees also organised langars at various places across Jammu offering ‘Prasad’ to the people. All the Shiv temples across Jammu witnessed heavy rush of devotees right since morning and big ques were seen running outside the temples but heavy rush was witnessed at Jammu’s Ranbireshawar Temple.A Shobha yatra was taken out from Ranbireshawar Temple by the Ranbireshawar Temple Welfare Committee in association with the Dharmarth Trust.This Shobha yatra passed through different areas of the Jammu city amid tight security arrangements. The devotees lined up all along the route of Shobha Yatra and greeted it by showering flowers amid chanting of ‘Jai Bholenath and ‘Har-Har Mahadev’ slogans.The devotees in large numbers also visited various ‘Aap-Shambhu’ temples of Lord Shiva across Jammu like Purmandal, Roop Nagar, Residency Road, Peerkho, Shiv Khori in Reasi and at other Shiv temples and offered prayers and prayed for peace and prosperity.As per Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati married on this day. This religious occasion is celebrated in all the temples of Lord Shiva in the night right since morning.
Meanwhile devotees inlarge numbers visited Shankaracharya temple here in Srinagar and Khir Bhawani temple at Tullamulla in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.As per Reports the Kashmiri Pandits celebrated Maha Shivratri with zeal today. The devotees in large numbers thronged the Shankaracharya Temple here to participate in the special prayers organized today.A festive look wore in and around the temples today, as the religious places were decorated for the special prayers, joined by the Kashmir Pandit community as well as the people from outside, who are presently on tour to Kashmir.“A great enthusiasm has been witnessed among the people here today. Celebrating the pious day in Kashmir was the happiest moment for us,” Rajni, a lady devotee from Jammu, said at Shankaracharya Temple.The festival holds an important place among Kashmiri Pandits, who celebrate it to mark the wedding of Shiva and Parvati.The biggest gathering took place at Shankaracharya Temple while hundreds of devotees too thronged to Khir Bhawani temple at Tullamulla in Ganderbal.Chanting hymns ‘Har Har Mahadev’ and ‘Bam Bam Bhole’, the devotees attended the special prayers at different temples across Kashmir.Pertinently, special arrangements were made at the temples for the devotees today. With inputs from KNO.