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.
