Haridwar, the city of Lord Shiva, is alive with fervor as Maha Shivratri unfolds. Devotees from across India have converged on this sacred town, drawn by the spiritual pull of the grand festival. Major Shiva temples, especially Dakshwar Mahadev, are swarming with pilgrims eager for darshan and ritual ablutions.
The atmosphere is electric. Chants of ‘Bol Bam’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’ echo through the streets from dawn. Long queues snake around the temple premises, where faithful souls wait patiently with pots of Ganga water and offerings. This year’s celebrations carry extra significance due to a rare astrological alignment unseen for 300 years, with five planets converging in Aquarius, promising fulfillment of wishes for sincere devotees.
Security is airtight. Police deployments and crowd management teams ensure smooth flow, preventing any chaos amid the massive influx. Mahant Ravindra Puri of Dakshwar Mahadev Temple extended greetings, highlighting the temple’s unique lore as Lord Shiva’s in-laws’ home and birthplace of Goddess Sati. ‘Maha Shivratri marks not just the divine wedding but nature’s union, with Parvati embodying the earth’s benevolence,’ he said.
Beyond Haridwar, Tapkeshwar Mahadev in Dehradun sees similar rushes. Priests recount its founding by sage Dronacharya, where Shiva blessed him with son Ashwatthama. This pan-India devotion underscores India’s timeless spiritual heritage, from Ramayana epics to Vedic traditions, making Maha Shivratri a pinnacle of faith.