Guwahati celebrates Shivaratri

By our Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Feb 24: The Shiva temples and households in Guwahati are agog with Shivaratri, considered by many as the wedding anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.

The city witnessed the Bhole thji ki Baaraat (the bridegroom procession of Lord Shiva) from Shukreswar Devalaya to Sadha Mandir at Fancy Bazar today. The programme was organized by Maa Kamakhya Bhakt Mandal. There will be a night-long Bhajan programme at Sadha Mandir where artistes from Jaipur, Kolkata, Mumbai, besides artistes from Guwahati will perform.

Devotees, including foreigners, were seen thronging Umanda Temple since morning today. The Kamrup(M) District Administration took special measures for safety and security of devotees. The entire river island has been declared a no-plastic zone.

At Bashishta temple in the city also devotees were seen worshipping Lord Shiva in various ways. A fair is underway at the site on the occasion of Shivaratri. People from all walks of life poured water and milk on the Shiva Lingam as part of observance. Sellers had wood apple, leaves of wood apple, Dhatura and marijua, ghoota (drink made out of milk and marijua), incense sticks on display outside the temple premises.

Kamakhya Temple, Lankeswar Temple, Chatrakar Devalaya, Ulubari Shiva Mandir, Kameswar Hanuman Mandir, Sri Sitaram Thakurbari and various other Shiva temples in the city celebrated Shivaratri.