On the 18th of February PM, Narendra Modi greets the people on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.
Maha Shivratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually to honor Lord Shiva, one of the principal deities in Hinduism. The festival falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Phalguna or Maagh (February or March in the Gregorian calendar). It is a significant festival for millions of devotees of Lord Shiva worldwide.
The word Maha Shivratri has its roots in the Sanskrit language, where “Maha” means great, and “Shivratri” means the night of Shiva. According to Hindu mythology, Maha Shivratri marks the day when Lord Shiva performed the “Tandava,” a divine dance that symbolizes the cycle of creation, preservation, and destruction.
There are several legends associated with the origin of Maha Shivratri. One of the most popular beliefs is that it was on this day that Lord Shiva consumed the poison that emerged from the ocean during the Samudra Manthan (churning of the ocean) by the gods and demons. The poison could have destroyed the world, but Lord Shiva consumed it to save the universe. He came to be known as Neelkanth, as a result of his throat turning blue.
Another story suggests that Maha Shivratri is the day when Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married. The day is celebrated as the union of Shiva and Shakti, the masculine and feminine energies of the universe, symbolizing the creation of life.
