MahaShivratri, a highly sacred Hindu festival, is commemorated with faithful devotion and prayer to Lord Shiva. The sacred day is spiritually uplifting and is celebrated by millions across India and the world. Unlike the other festivals where they are celebrated with zest and feast, Maha Shivratri is a day of fasting, meditation, prayer and to feel the divine energy of Shiva.
All wonder, "why is Shivratri celebrated?" or "what is Shivaratri?". To know more about the importance of this festival, let's know its date, religious importance, ancient mythology, and rituals.
What is Shivaratri?
To begin with, let us deal with the most basic question: what is Shivaratri?
Shivratri is the "Great Night of Shiva". Unlike all other festivals, it is a night festival and symbolizes victory over darkness and ignorance in life. There is a Shivratri every month, but MahaShivratri is the biggest of them all, and that occurs annually in the Hindu month of Phalguna (February–March).
This holy night is where the energies of the universe are most in balance, so rituals like meditation, fasting, and reciting "Om Namah Shivaya" are actually strong.
