Scenes from Mahashivaratri celebrations

This important Hindu festival is celebrated with religious vigor within the Tamil community. Devotee’s worship Lord Shiva and his marriage to the Goddess Parvati, as a test of their devotion believers abstain from food and remain in vigil at night in kovils and at homes throughout the island.

Lord Shiva is said to have declared that the rituals performed by his devotees on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun satisfies him the most. All through the day, devotees chant "Om Namah Shivaya", the sacred mantra of Shiva, while also performing penances in order to gain “boons”. 

Devotees also circulate the lingam three or seven times, and then pour water over it while some also pour milk over. Statues of Lord Shiva and Pravati are draped in marigolds, also pouring water and milk, orange and tambaili (king coconut) and offerings of fruit and flowers are made. 

It is believed that the devotion of Shiva on Mahashivaratri would free the devotee from past sins, allowing living happily in the abode of Shiva, as the believer is liberated from the cycle of birth and death, attaining salvation.

Mahashivaratri is especially important for women, married and single. They generally fast and perform Shiva Puja with great devotion. This is predominantly done to appease Shiva, along with his consort Goddess Parvati, in the belief that she would bestow marital bliss on unmarried women and bless married women with a blissful married life.