Kathmandu: Devotees across the country are celebrating Maha Shivaratri today, observing the festival with prayers, rituals, and temple visits to honor Lord Shiva.
The festival, observed annually on the midnight of Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi, marks the divine manifestation of Lord Shiva. According to religious scriptures, the Supreme Being assumed the form of Shiva at midnight on this day. Religious scholar Prof. Dr. Devmani Bhattarai explained that worshipping and praying to Lord Shiva during this time is believed to bring peace in this life and salvation in the afterlife.
Following Vedic Sanatan Hindu traditions, devotees began their day with holy baths in rivers, ponds, and lakes before heading to Shiva temples for prayers and offerings. The Shiva Purana describes Maha Shivaratri as one of the four sacred nights—Kalaratri, Moharatri, Sukharatri, and Shivaratri.
Many devotees consider this occasion significant, believing that Lord Shiva shows compassion to the poor and distressed on this day. Some associate the festival with nature’s cycle, as the shedding of leaves in Magh symbolizes Shiva’s destructive force, which then transforms into a life-giving energy in Falgun. This transition is seen as a representation of renewal and the essence of Maha Shivaratri.
As part of the celebrations, major Shiva temples across the country, including the revered Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, are witnessing a large influx of worshippers, with special prayers and offerings being conducted throughout the night.