SHEHJAR - Web Magazine for Kashmir

RECENT UPDATE Promoting Kashmiri Hindu issues of this decade and bring the diverse needs of the community in a format that is easy to read and navigate.

CURRENT ISSUE

Shivratri Celebrated in Canada

Shehjar Events

Events & Community Members in news

Shivratri Celebrated in Canada
22nd Feb 2009

n behalf of everyone at Shri Ram Mandir, please accept my heartiest greetings on the auspicious occasion of Shivaraatri which was celebrated here on 22nd February this year. May Lord Shiva bless each one of us with peace, happiness, prosperity, and good health? May our entire lives be auspicious (mangal maya). May God’s benevolence and blessings be continually showered upon you?

Hindus all over the world attend their temples in large numbers on this special day in the Hindu calendar. Fasting and special Shiva pooja is done at home and the entire family makes the sacrifice of worshiping the different forms of Lord Shiva which are mainly the Lingam and the Murti of Lord Shiva. For centuries, Hindus have been observing Shivaratri with utmost zeal and devotion. This age-old tradition with its elaborate rituals covering three-fourths of the dark half of the lunar month of Phalguna (Feb-March) are followed even to this day, modified, of course, to suit the changing times and circumstances.

Shivaratri provides a wonderful and meaningful get-together for all members of the family. Every member of the household is normally in a festive mood. It is a day of prayer and meditation for the elders and one of fun and frolic for the youngsters, particularly children in their new colourful attire. During the entire celebrations, all the family members, men, women and children would greet each other and enjoy this day by singing bhajans and worshiping of deities.

Maha Shivaraatri (literally meaning Shiva's night) is a festival of great significance for Hindus all over the world. The event is an opportunity for all to reflect on their lives and to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva. The occasion provides the devotee the opportunity to seek forgiveness for past impious actions. It is a time for seeking redemption. Lord Shiva is called the destroyer for his blessings will rid the devotee of all of their negative tendencies and through their faith, mental and physical approach to life’s daily challenges will be able to overcome all issues.

Shiva represents the eternal process of creation and destruction, and His nature has primarily a two-fold aspect--immanent which pervades the universe and the transcendental that is beyond the universal manifestation of time, space and form.

The ritual worship starts from 6am and continues for 24 hrs into the next day at 6am. It would include worshiping of the lingam for many hours. In Ram Mandir we have special Avishake starting from 6pm to 6am, basically starting at 6pm on the day of the occasion and repeated every three hours during the night with the last session commencing at 3am. The occasion will include singing of bhajans and readings from many scriptures and will be concluded with Aarti
This occasion keeps alive the very essence of Shiva and the eternal values He embodies, i.e. mutual love, togetherness, open mindedness, inclusiveness and respect for one and all.

No wonder, each year Shivaratri becomes the time for new beginnings ~ when old wounds are forgotten and new relationships fostered! May the spirit of Shivaratri awaken the spirit of Shiva in each and every one of us!

Kanayalal Raina

Copyrights © 2007 Shehjar online and KashmirGroup.com . Any content, including but not limited to text, software, music, sound, photographs, video, graphics or other material contained may not be modified, copied, reproduced, republished, uploaded, posted, or distributed in any form or context without written permission. Terms & Conditions.