Hindu devotees across the world celebrated Maha Shivaratri on Tuesday; March 02, 2022 from morning to midnight with great fervor and zeal. Thousands of devotees from the New England region area thronged the Shivalaya Temple of Greater Boston to offer prayers on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. 

Maha Shivaratri 'the great night of Shiva' is considered one of the most auspicious festivals of Hindus. Maha Shivaratri happens only once every year, in February/March, when winter lowly ends, spring, and summer begin while there is a Shivaratri every lunisolar month of the Hindu calendar. This night is especially auspicious, as it is supposed to be the night of convergence of Shiva and Shakti, which in essence is the union of male and feminine energies that keeps the world in balance. Shiva and Shakti are revered as the embodiment of love, energy, and unity.

In the evening, all the devotees stood in the long line for a while to offer ‘Jal’ to the Shiva Lingam and prayed for better life and Moksha. Many devotees observed fasting and participated in the special Abhishekams and Archanas. In the late evening, the temple organized ‘Shiva Alankar’ program by Swami Nalinanand Giri ji who did wonderful Shiva Puja by chanting of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ mantra with an immense passion and a pious spirit. As it is believed that chanting of Shiva mantra cleans one’s soul of all the sins. It is the greatest way to overcome life’s many difficulties and problems through the grace of Lord Shiva. 

Hima/Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva was the main attraction. It was well carved and placed on a special mountain like stage. Many devotees and young children sang devotional Bhajans with much devotion, chanted ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ in chorus, and their holy sound created a pious atmosphere in the shrine.  Devotees felt the vibrations of healing energies. Since sound is a form of energy, and the recitation of mantras produced a therapeutic power to calm the mind and the body. A group of young children displayed the presentation of the iconic procession and marriage of Lord Shiva and Parvati. The exchange of Jayamala and the Marriage Vows between Lord Shiva and Parvati Devi took place while Gopi Sharma, Usha Kamal, and others were singing wedding songs.

Akshaya Balan presented a superb Bharatanatyam dance, ‘Ardhanareshawara Ashtakam.’ All the devotees were enthralled by her finest performance and moves. Her mastery of dance, refined gestures, minute flutters of her fingers, the rhythmic drop of a heel, and the shuttling of eyes exhibited the efforts and skills of her great teacher, Smt. Mrudula Rai from Coimbatore, India.

Temple arranged light ‘Phalahar’ for the fasting devotees and for non-fasting devotees, Nirvana - The Taste of India served Maha Prasadam with much devotion and love.

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