Mamata Banerjee wishes people on Maha Shivratri

Kolkata, Feb 17: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today greeted the people on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.

"May all your wishes be fulfilled by Lord Shiva on this auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri. Om Namah Shivaya," she tweeted. The festival celebrates the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

Thousands of devotees today took a holy dip in Godavari river and offered prayers to Lord Shiva at the famous Kapaleshwar temple here on the occasion of 'Mahashivratri'.

The devotees were also seen standing in long queues at Someshwar and other temples in the city and in the holy town of Trimbakeshwar near here which houses one of the 'jyotirlingas'.

Many people also observed a fast on Shivratri. The priests at various Shiva temples performed 'mahapooja' and offered milk and sugarcane juice at the 'Shivling'.

The Nashik division of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) has arranged special buses to ferry the pilgrims to Trimbakeshwar and Someshwar temple.

Both the city and rural police have made elaborate security arrangements for the smooth conduct of the Shivratri celebration.

PTI