Shivratri observed in fasting and prayers

Kolkata, Feb 16 (UNI) Thousands of devotees at various shiv temples of the city chanted the scared Panchakshara mantra "Om Namah Shivaya" as they made a beeline to worship this God of Destruction.

Maha Shivratri, the night of the worship of Shiva, which occurs on the 14th night of the new moon in the month of Phalguna. This is the night, when Lord Shiva is said to have performed the 'Tandava Nritya' Married women and young girls in the city especially in Bhawanipore, Lake Market and Burra Bazar areas here thronged the temples with milk and fruits and 'bel'(wood-apple) leaves to worship the 'Lingam' for the well-being of their husbands and for a perfect husband respectively.

It is belived that Lord Shiva had married Parvati on this day.

'' We keep daylong fast without drinking even a single drop of water. In the evening we go to temple, give offerings to the lord and then break our fast.''said Lakshmi Agarwal,a resident of Burra bazar area.

'' We also offer bhang (a derivative of the cannabis plant) in the form of a drink to Sambhunath,'' Manav Tiwari, a rickhshaw puller said, who was also on fast.

However, in Bengal young men keep fast to be blessed with qualities that Lord Shiva possesses.

UNI