Srinagar
Kashmiri Pandits living across Kashmir celebrated Hehrath, the
Shivratri festival on Friday. Unlike the rest of the mainland, the
festival is strictly personal and rituals take place at home and
Temples. Pandit families living all over Kashmir received their
relatives and friends who had come to congratulate them for the
festival.
Devotees pouring milk at Lord Shiva’s idol, KL photo by Bilal Bahadur
Temples wore a festive look as devotees made a beeline to participate
in the special prayers. The festival holds an important place among
Kashmiri Pandits who celebrate it to mark the wedding of Shiva and
Parvati by cooking traditional Kashmiri food, especially fish. The
occurrence of rain or snowfall on this day is considered to be a good
omen.
Devotees
wait in a queue to offer prayers at Temple on the Maha Shivratri in
Srinagar on Friday, February 21, 2020. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
The biggest gathering of the festival usually takes place at
Shankaracharya Temple, Dal Lake. Hundreds of devotees also throng Khir
Bhawani temple at Tullamulla in district Ganderbal. The temple
authorities at Ganpatyar and Hanuman Mandir at Amira Kadal also hold
special Poojas throughout the day followed by celebrations in the
evening.
A female devotee praying at Temple on the Maha Shivratri in Srinagar on Friday, February 21, 2020. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
Many devotees especially visit Srinagar from across India to pray at the Shankracharya temple.
Among the devotees at the temple were Mohan Kumar from Bihar and Shri Ram from Hyderabad.
Devotees performing Puja at the Temple in Srinagar on Friday, February 21, 2020. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
“I have come from Bihar especially to participate in the special
prayers at the Shankracharya temple; a visit to the temple on
Mahashivratri is considered very auspicious,” news agency IANS quoted Mohan Kumar as having said.
A
female devotee posing for a photograph with Lord Shiva’s idol on the
Maha Shivratri in Srinagar on Friday, February 21, 2020. KL Image by
Bilal Bahadur
“I am feeling really good on visiting the temple. It was a one-hour
trek from the nearest road-head to the temple on the hillock, but I felt
very good. I always wished to visit Kashmir on this holy day — today my
dream has come true,” IANS quoted Ram as saying.
The temples in other parts of the Valley are also holding prayers to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva.
Kashmiri Pandit couple performing puja at home in Srinagar on February 21, 2020. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
“We are holding special prayers for peace in Jammu and Kashmir; we
wish the problems in Kashmir and elsewhere in the country come to an end
and brotherhood and harmony prevails,” Rakesh Kumar, a priest at the
Shankaracharya temple, said.
Devotees pray at the Temple in Srinagar on Friday, February 21, 2020. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
Mahashivratri marks the culmination of a three-day festival for the
Kashmiri Pandit community. Special prayers are held on the first two
days, with a feast on the third day, in which their relatives, as well
as members from the Muslim community, participate.
Devotees climbing stairs to reach the Shankaracharya temple in Srinagar on Friday, February 21, 2020. KL Image by Bilal Bahadur
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