Maha Shivaratri tour in Kathmandu Pashupatinath

Maha Shiva Ratri Tour date - Thursday, March 11, 2021

Maha Shivaratri Tour Nepali date - 27 Falgun 2077

Maha Shivratri is the day that celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Shakti. However, from the viewpoint of spirituality, Maha Shivratri marks the coming together of knowledge and energy.

Significance of Maha Shiva Ratri

According to one of the popular beliefs, Lord Shiva first appeared in the form of a linga on this day. He emerged as a massive beam of light after seeing Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu, arguing about each other's supremacy. And hence, to remind them that there's someone more powerful, he asked them to find the source and the end of the beam. Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar and dug deep inside the Earth while Lord Brahma transformed into a swan and flew upwards. After a relentless search, Lord Vishnu conceded defeat while Lord Brahma took the help of the Ketaki flower to give false testimony about his victory. Infuriated by Brahma's deceit, Lord Shiva cut one of his five heads with his trident and cursed him by saying that he wouldn't be worshipped in temples.

As per another legend, Maha Shivratri is the day that celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva and Shakti. However, from the viewpoint of spirituality, Maha Shivratri marks the coming together of knowledge and energy. In other words, it is a fusion of Purusha (mindfulness) and Prakriti (nature). 

How is the Hindu festival celebrated?

The focus of Maha Shivaratri is to encourage overcoming darkness and ignorance, and Hindu’s usually prayed and chant to Lord Shiva as part of the celebration.

Many worshippers also fast and meditate during the celebrations, as well as visit Shiva temples to carry out their prayers.

The Hindu temples across India are usually decorated with different colors and lights, and many of them offer night-long prayers ahead leading into the day's celebrations.

Some people also sing hymns and fast on the night of Shivaratri with the hope Lord Shiva will then give them good luck for the future.

The level of fasting can vary, with some going without any food or water, while others eat just fruit and milk

The Ganges river is also a popular spot for Hindus during the festival, with many bathing in the water before visiting a Shiva temple, bathing in milk and honey is also common for Maha Shivaratri.

Shivaratri in Nepal - Pashupatinath temple package

Dedicated to Lord Shiva, Pashupatinath is one of the four most important religious sites in Asia for devotees of Shiva. Built-in the 5th century and later renovated by Malla kings, the site itself is said to have existed from the beginning of the millennium when a Shiva lingam was discovered here.

Daily Rituals at Pashupatinath Temple

Pashupatinath is also one of the few living cultural heritage sites in the world. Unlike other cultural sites or museums, Pashupatinath is the center of energy with the active participation of people at all times of the day, every day. The daily rituals of Pashupatinath Temple are as follows:

• 4:00 am: West gate opens for visitors.
• 8:30 am: After the arrival of Pujaris, the idols of the Lord are bathed and cleaned, clothes and jewelry are changed for the day.
• 9:30 am: Baal Bhog or breakfast is offered to the Lord.
• 10:00 am: Then people who want to do Puja are welcomed to do so. It is also called Farmayishi Puja, whereby people tell the Pujari to carry out a special Puja for specific reasons. The Puja continues till 1:45 pm in the afternoon.
• 1:50 pm: Lunch is offered to the Lord in the main Pashupati Temple.
• 2:00 pm: Morning prayers end.
• 5:15 pm: The evening Aarati at the main Pashupati Temple begins.
• 6:00 pm onward: In recent times the Bagmati Ganga Aarati that is done by the banks of the Bagmati has been gaining popularity. There are larger crowds attending on Saturdays, Mondays, and on special occasions. Ganga Aarati along with Shiva’s Tandava Bhajan, written by Ravana, is carried out during the evening Ganga Aarati.
• 7:00 pm: Doors close.

Apart from the daily rituals, special observations are plotted during special dates of the lunar calendar.

You can extend your tour and have Muktinath tour package with us.