Maha Shivratri 2023: Har, Har Mahadev! India Celebrates Auspicious Festival, Prays to Lord Shiva

Maha Shivratri 2023: This year, Maha Shivratri is being celebrated on February 18. The festival is observed across the length and breadth of the country with chants of 'Om Namah Shivay' reverberating throughout the nation.

A Hindu festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, Maha Shivratri is an auspicious festival that's observed with a lot of fanfare and enthusiasm. This year, it has fallen on February 18, a Saturday. Mahashivratri Puja, in contrast to many other festivals, is performed at night. Devotees consume satvik foods like ragi, sabudana, fruits, and some vegetables while keeping the fast. Some also follow the austere 'nirjala' vrat. While devotees take bath in the morning like on any puja day, as the Shivratri Puja is performed at night, they take another bath in the evening before doing Shiv Puja. Again the next day, following a bath, devotees usually break their fast.  It is believed that those people who perform puja, fast, and offer prayers to Lord Shiva are blessed with good luck. Be it the north or south of the country, Maha Shivratri is celebrated in a big way across India. 

18 February 2023

18:35 IST

Maha Shivratri 2023: Punjab CM Extends Wishes

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday offered prayers at Shati Peethi Sri Devi Talab and Maha Lakshmi Mandirs in Jalandhar on the festival of Mahashivratri.

According to an official release, Mann said Mahashivratri inspires people to strive towards the pursuit of truth that leads to the ultimate consciousness epitomised by Lord Shiva. The festival lays stress on the values of piety, devotion, mutual love and harmony, known as the cornerstones of the great Indian civilization.

17:09 IST

Maha Shivratri 2023: Andhra, Telangana CMs Extend Greetings

The Chief Ministers of both the Telugu states greeted people on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao extended greetings to the people of Telangana State and the country. CM KCR appealed to people to celebrate the Shivratri festival with devotion and fervour. He prayed that Lord Shiva's compassion be upon all the people. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy also greeted people on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. Lord Shiva's day is auspicious. May all of us receive the blessings of Goddess Parvati, he said.