Temples all over New England held Mahashivaratri celebrations on Monday, Feb 28, 2022. Devotees gathered to perform the Abhishekams for Bhagwan Shiv. Four Kala (times) Abhishekams were performed at the temples. It is believed that in the middle of the night Shiv ji performed His divine tandav. In honor of this Divine event, dance presentations were done after midnight.  

Shiva Parvathi Kalyam is also performed on this day. At the New England Shirdi Sai temple after two Abhishekams done with the chanting of Rudram, the Purohits  performed an elaborate Shiva Parvathi Kalyana Utsavam where the Purohits pretending to carry the Bride and the Groom for Garland Exchange danced in front of the Deities before garlanding them. At the Chinmaya Maruthi, Jeyanthi Ghatraju performed “Kapali Nee”. She and Manasa Jayanthi also performed at the New England Shirdi Sai temple.

At the Siddalalitha Peetam, Sri Bhavani Tejasvi Athmaram described the significance of the midnight dance. “The cosmic dance happens when Time and Space intersect . Mahakala, Shivji representing time and Ma Kali representing space come together and manifest the Universe”. 

After the completion of all the Abhishekams, Bhavani ji and Ranjani Saigal presented an impromptu offering of dance to the divine. They performed Natanam Adinar and Okapari where Ranjani Saigal performed in the Bharatanatyam style and Bhavani ji in Kuchipudi style. 

With prayers from the world over, there is great hope that Covid pandemic is ebbing and temples are opening their doors to services. We sincerely pray that with Shiv ji’s blessing, the wars in the world will be brought to an end and peace will prevail. Om Shanti.