News Reports
February 21, 2004: Many reports were received regarding the celebration of Maha Sivaratri, “Siva’s Great Night,” on February 18/19. The all-night worship is the foremost celebration of Saivism and is celebrated on the night before the new moon in the lunar month of February-March. Fasting and an all-night vigil are observed as well as other disciplines: chanting, praying, meditating and worshiping Siva as the Source and Self of all that exists. It is not, as was sometimes reported, Siva’s “birthday.” There is no such designated day.
In Nepal the royal family presided over the national celebrations. In a sign of slight easing of tension between India and Pakistan, 160 Indian Hindu pilgrims reached Lahore, Pakistan, where they were able to observe the festival at the Katas Raj Mandir. From Kerala news reports state, “Devotees in large numbers could be seen in the major Siva temples of Thiruvananthapuram at Sreekanteswaram, Gaurisapattom, Kazhakoottam, Neeramankara and Chala from the wee hours to witness the special pujas such as the recital of Rudram and Chamakam and Siva Panchakshari. In some temples, Laksharchana was also conducted.”
From Bangalore, The Hindu reports “Serpentine queues of worshippers were a common feature of most temples across the city on Wednesday when Maha Sivaratri was celebrated. Crowds were thickest at Kadu Malleswara Temple in Malleswaram and Someshwara Temple in Ulsoor.” And in Andhra Pardesh devotees thronged the temples. Similar reports came in from across India.