Shivaratri
According to hindus, shivaratri is a festival which helps to 'overcome darkness' in life. Shivarathri comes in every lunisolar month of hindu calendar. It falls on 13th night/14th day after pournami. Shivaratri is celebrated at night.
Shivaratri is closely connected to Lord Shiva. Shivarathri that comes in the month of february/march is very auspicious among
other shivarathri and it is called as 'Maha Shivaratri'.Maha Shivaratri is celebrated as a day of gratitude to Lord Shiva for protecting the world from the deadly poison.
Maha Shivaratri is a major festival for hindus. They consider this maha shivarathri as "Great night of Shiva". During the night,
Shiva Linga are given holy bath every three hours. Thousands of people across the country, spend this auspicious night in the
temple. They undergo fasting, perform poojas, chanting prayers in praise of lord, offering neivedhyam and performs other rituals.
Shivaratri is considered as the night when Lord Shiva performed the 'Tandava Nritya' - the dance of primordial creation,
preservation and destruction. On the night of shivaratri, abisekha (ritual bath to the God) is performed with the panchagavya -
milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung.The festival holds special meaning for the ladies. They pray to Goddess Parvati also
called ′Gaura′, the giver of (′suhag′ for) good husbands, marital bliss and a long and prosperous married life.