Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 26 (UNI) Devotees thronged Shiva temples in Kerala and offered worship and performed special poojas in connection with the Hindu festival, Maha Shivratri, which is being celebrated with zeal and religious fervour on Wednesday.
Thousands of devotees offered ‘Bali Tharpanam’ to the departed souls of their ancestors on the banks of the Periyar River at the Aluva Shiva temple here in connection with the Shivratri festival.
Performing the ritual at midnight on Shivratri is considered auspicious by the devotees.
Devasom Board, the administrative body of temples in the state, has set up sacrificial altars for devotees to offer ‘Bali’ on the banks of the Periyar River, and hundreds of priests have been deployed to assist devotees.
Major temples, including Sree Kandeswaram, Thiruvallam Parasurama and Kushakkod Shiva temples in Thiruvananthapuram, Vadakkunnathan Temple in Thrissur, Maha Deva Temple at Vaikom and Shiva temple at Ettumanur in Kottayam, Ernakulam Shiva temple and Thirunelly temple in Wayanad, have witnessed heavy rush from early morning.
Special poojas and programs were conducted in many ashrams, including Matha Amrithanandamayi Devi Math at Karunagappally in Kollam.
Meanwhile, Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar expressed Maha Sivarathri wishes to the people, saying, “Sincere prayers and best wishes on this solemn occasion of great spiritual significance when the spirit of the supreme vibrates in the whole cosmos.”
“Maha Sivarathri inculcates greater unity and harmony among humanity,” he added.
Several hundred police personnel were deployed to take care of the security situation. Cultural programs are also being organised in many temples as part of Maha Shivaratri.
