About Mahashivaratri Festival
Legands
There are many legands related to mahashivaratri. It is a night of yogi. According to the Puranas, during the great mythical churning of the ocean called Samudra Manthan, a pot of poison emerged from the ocean. The gods and the demons were terrified as it could destroy the entire world. When they ran to Shiva for help, he in order to protect the world, drank the deadly poison but held it in his throat instead of swallowing it. This turned his throat blue, and since then he came to be known as 'Nilkantha', the blue-throated one. Shivratri celebrates this event by which Shiva saved the world.
What to do on mahashivaratri?
Keep Fast (If possible). All night vigil. Chant "OM Namashshivaya" (written as OM NAMAH SHIVAYA but pronouced OM Namashshivaya) all night and pour milk, curd, honey, ghee, sugar, fruit juices, water to shiva linga.
Mahashivaratri Dates for 2009
USA, Canada: February 22nd 2009
Europe, Africa, Gulf countries, Mauritius: February 23rd 2009
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka: February 23rd 2009
China, Manglolia, Indonesia: February 23rd 2009
Thiland, Vietnam, Hongkong: February 23rd 2009
Malaysia: February 23rd 2009
Singapore, Japan, Australia, Newzealand, Fiji: February 23rd 2009
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