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A Mahashivaratri day for all Shiv bhakts across Bengaluru

Markets were abuzz with devotees engaging in shopping for the celebration.

BENGALURU: With just a few hours left for Mahashivaratri, various Shiva temples across the city are making grand arrangements for the celebrations and have organised various cultural programmes.

The Ulsoor Someshwara temple, Gavi Gangadhareshwara temple and Kadu Malleswara temple will be major attractions in the city. Devotees offer prayers by observing jagarane (staying awake through the night). Markets were abuzz with devotees engaging in shopping for the celebration.

Former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda will perform Gangajal pooja and distribute it among devotees at Devagiri Manjunath Temple at Banashankari 2nd stage.

Maha Shivaratri was the day when lord Shiva drank poison to save the world from destruction. Shivaratri is mentioned in several Puranas, particularly the Skanda Purana, Linga Purana and Padma Purana. According to one legend, this is the night when Shiva performs the heavenly dance of creation, preservation and destruction. The chanting of hymns, the reading of Shiva scriptures and the chorus of devotees is also part of the celebration.

According to another legend, this is the night when Shiva and Parvati got married. Yet another legend says that the offering to Shiva icons such as the linga is an annual occasion to get over past sins if any and to restart on a virtuous path and thereby reach Mount Kailasa and attain salvation.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
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