Maha Shivratri (Night of Lord Shiva) is a Hindu festival, celebrated across the nation and around the world amongst Hindus and other devotees, with enthusiasm. The festival falls every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu calendar. The festival is dedicated to Lord Shiva, the destroyer of all evils. He is known by over hundred names.

Maha Shivratri is the day to rejoice and to pray to the god for wellbeing. Hindus across the world offer prayers to the God in the morning or in the evening. Many observe fasting throughout the day. There are masses praying in the temples of Lord Shiva during the day. The prayers and worship continue throughout the night and the devotees offer coconut, Bilva leaves, fruits and specially prepared sacred food to Lord Shiva and Parvati, the consort. As this is a dark fortnight, devotees light candles and diyas (a clay lamp, with wick, dipped in ghee) throughout the night – this is a symbol of spiritual manifestation.

On this day, devotees stay awake throughout the night offering prayers to Lord Shiva. They offer special food made from the fruits of the season, root vegetables and coconut to the Lord. There are exclusive celebrations in important Lord Shiva temples at Varanasi, Kalahasti (Andhra Pradesh) and Chidambaram (Tamil Nadu), where tourist visits in large numbers to show their devotion.

Shivratri, also called Maha Shivratri, as it is a grand occasion. With the break of dawn, Lord Shiva temples are filled with devotees, who come to perform the traditional worship of the Lord Shivalinga. Women are found to be performing worship in large numbers. Throughout the day, devotees abstain from eating food and break their fast only the next morning. This day is considered especially auspicious for women, as they pray for the well being of their family, while unmarried women pray for forming a family like the God himself. Lord Shiva is considered to be an ideal husband, reason being the quality endowed upon him has each and every quality that a women will want.

Hymns are sung in praise of God with devotion. People repeat the Panchakshara Mantra: “Om Namah Lord Shivaya” which is believed, that one who utters the name of Lord Shiva during Shivratri with true devotion is freed from all sins, and finds happiness and it is also believed that he/she is liberated from the cycle of birth and death.

Lord Shiva being an ascetic god, Maha Shivratri is very popular with ascetics. Thandai- a drink made with cannabis, almonds, and milk, is essentially drunk by the devout in praise. Cannabis is said to have been very dear to Lord Shiva. Indian Epics, Puranas envisage with countless stories describing the origin of the festival.

It is described that, to protect the world from evil effects of poison originated during churning for Amrita, Lord Shiva held the deadly poison in his throat instead of swallowing it which made his throat turned blue, for which he was called Nilkantha - "the blue-throated". Shivratri is the celebration by which Lord Shiva saved the world. The 12 Lingams behold very important amongst devotees, devotees look forward to see all of them during their life time, these are as follows:

1. Somanath: This temple is situated in Gujarat and is one of the first Jyotirlingas.

2. Mallikarjun: Mallikarjun is situated at Sree Sailam, about 250 km From Hyderabad, near Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh.

3. Mahakaleshwar: The shrine of Mahakaleshwar is situated at Ujjain (or Avanti) in Madhya Pradesh. It was considered to be the capital of King Vikramaditya Chandragupta of the Gupta dynasty.

4. Omkareshwar: It is situated on Mandhata hill on the banks of river Narmada in M.P. There are two famous temples dedicated to Omkareshwara and Amaleshwara.

5. Kedarnath: It is situated near Badrinath in Uttaranchal, located on the Rudra Himalaya range. This shrine is accessible to visitors only once in every 6 months because rest of the time, it is covered with snow.

6. Bhimashankar: It is situated near Pune, Maharashtra.

7. Kashi Vishwanath: It is situated in Banaras, the city believed to be devoted exclusively to Lord Shiva and is a major shakti peeth of India. There is popular belief that any human being who dies here gets a place in the heaven.

8. Tryambakeshwar: It is situated near Nashik in Maharashtra.

9. Vaidyanath: Vaidyanath is situated at Deogarh, in the Santal Parganas region of Bihar.

10. Nageshwar: It is situated at Dwarka in Gujarat.

11. Rameshwaram: It is situated in southern Tamil Nadu.

12. Grishneshwar: It is located close to Ellora, in Maharashtra.