Maha Shivaratri

Maha Shivaratri is one of the major festivals of Nepal and which literally means “Night of the Shiva”. It is celebrated on the 14th day of the dark fortnight of the Magh month, as per the Hindu lunar calendar but is specially celebrated at falgun 27th or 11th march.

On this day, people (specially children) used to stop the road by rope and take money from the people to have fun and at night all of the people gather together all set a fire because according to the story all their devotees wanted to become like the god so at the night they eat a lot of bhang, Dhaturo with Haluwa and celebrate this festival happily. 

The day of Shivaratri is different for different people. Some take it as a day to fulfil a religious purpose, whereas some as the day to smoke and have fun around a bonfire. .It is believed that on this day, the stars in the Northern Hemisphere are at most optimum positions to help raise a person’s spiritual energy. It is  also believed that the Shiva principle is most active on this day of the year.

Maha Shivaratri is celebrated marking the convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Maha Shivaratri also celebrates the night when Lord Shiva performed the "Tandav", the cosmic dance. Hundreds of thousands of devotees visit Pashupati temple in Kathmandu, one of the holiest shrines of the Hindus.  Pashupatinath is considered the Guardian and Protector of the Kathmandu valley and Nepal. 

As Maha Shivaratri is mainly related with the night, the devotees stay up all night and pray to Lord shiv. The four Prahars of Puja is carried out all night long, the devotees usually stay in tents along the Gaushala road.