Ice sculpture, processions, fasting mark Mahashivratri

Lakhs of Delhiites thronged the temples in the Capital to celebrate Mahashivratri with great pomp and show, reports Karan Choudhury.

All of Delhi was in a Bum Bum Bhole mode on Thursday. Lakhs of Delhiites thronged the temples in the Capital to celebrate Mahashivratri with great pomp and show. People spent the whole day in religious fervour and fasting.

Prominent temples all over the city in areas like CR Park, Chandni Chowk, Mayur Vihar, Patparganj depot and IP Estate were crowded with devotees.

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"This is a very important festival for us. I had started preparing for it two-days back. We knew the temple would be crowded so we came early in the morning around 6 am. We will come back again at night," said Paromita Majumdar, from CR Park.

Huge processions were taken out in the Old Delhi area. Children dressed up as Shiva and ice sculpture of the God was also a part of it. Celebrated on the new moon night in the month of Magha or Phalguna, Shivratri is observed especially by married women to ensure the long life of their husbands. It consists of a full day's fast and anointing the idol of Shiva with milk, water and honey.

Residents' Welfare Associations (RWA) are also doing their bit to make the day special for everybody. "There are as many as four Mahashivratri pujas taking place in our area. We have also organised a feast in which everybody is invited. The menu is kept simple but the food served is tasty," said DM Narang, general secretary New Rajinder Nagar RWA.

All temples criss-crossing the city were decorated with colourful bulbs and preparations for the customary wedding of Shiv and Parvati were going at full pace. There were also long queues in many areas and people had to wait for some time to get their turn to fulfil all rituals.