Maha Shivratri Festival

The festival of Maha Shivaratri is celebrated all over the country, and in different places and ways in different states. In the state of Andhra Pradesh, the Maha Shivaratri is celebrated at mainly Kalahasti, in Sri Kalahasteshwara Temple. It is also celebrated at Srisailam in the temple of Bharamarambha Malikarjunaswamy Temple. The Maha Shivaratri means ‘Night of the Shiva’ and it is believed to be the day when Lord Shiva married Parvati. 

The Maha Shivaratri festival is celebrated in Andhra Pradesh when pilgrims go all the way to Kalahasti and Srisailam to visit the temples there. There is a strict fast observed throughout the day. Throughout the night, the Shiva Lingam is worshipped by washing it every three hours with milk, curd, honey, rose water etc with the holy chant of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ chanted at the background with devotion and concentration. 

Time for celebrating Maha Shivratri Festival 

The Maha Shivaratri is celebrated on the 13th or the 14th day of the dark half of Phalgun, that falls during the months of February or March.