Margazhi celebrations begin in Tamil Nadu

‘Vishwakarma Jayanti’ is a Hindu festival that celebrates Lord Vishwakarma, the divine architect and craftsman of the gods. It is celebrated on September 17 this year.

A large number of devotees thronged the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh to offer prayers to Lord Shiva on the occasion of the fifth ‘Shravan Somvar.’

'Bhasma Aarti' for Lord Shiva was performed early morning with all the customs at the famous Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain on the fifth Monday of 'Sawan' month.

Additionally, Kanwar Yatra is a significant ritual during this period. People gather water from sacred rivers for this rite and place it in little mud pots known as Kanwars. Devotees don saffron-coloured clothes while carrying the holy water and walk on foot to visit temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Devotees who are termed Kanwariyas visit places like Haridwar, Gaumukh and Gangotri in Uttarakhand, and Sultanganj in Bihar to fetch the holy water of River Ganga and then worship the God with that water.

Mahashivratri, which essentially translates to 'the great night of Shiva', is considered one of the most auspicious festivals of the country. It is celebrated annually with much fervour and excitement across India. This year Mahashivratri will be observed on February 18, 2023. So, get ready to hear chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' on this day.