National
Maha Shivratri celebrated with religious fervour
New Delhi: Hundreds of thousands of devotees across the country celebrated Maha Shivratri Tuesday with zeal and religious fervour by observing fast and offering prayers.
The festival is celebrated to mark the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. Devotees stay awake all night, singing hymns and prayers, to seek Lord Shiva’s blessings.
Temples witnessed long queues of devotees since early morning to offer prayers, flowers and fruits.
East Delhi based Mahi Mittal, who has been observing Maha Shivratri for the last five years, told : “I am in the queue since 6 in the morning. I knew the queue will be long so I came early to offer my prayers.”
Brijesh Chaturvedi said this is the first time he has kept a fast for Lord Shiva.
“As my friends told me that the queue in the popular Shiva temples in Delhi will be crowded, so I went to a temple near my home and prayed at 6.30 a.m. today. I will only eat fruits. I feel good after offering prayers.”
Among some of the prominent Lord Shiva temples in the national capital are the 800-year-old Gauri Shankar temple and the Sri Shiv Mandir. Both the temples witnessed long queues from 4 a.m.
Sheila Mehrotra, a devotee, said that every year on Maha Shivratri, her day begins a little earlier than usual as she observes a fast on the occasion.
“I do not even remember for how long I have been keeping a fast on Shivratri. I read the ‘Shiv Chalisa’ and offer milk, Bel leaves and flowers to the Shivling,” said 57-year-old Mehrotra.
“It marks the day Shiv and Parvati got married. Women fast to ensure a good life for their husbands, and young girls observe a fast in the hope of a good life partner, much like Shiva himself,” Mehrotra added.
The festival falls on the 13th or 14th day of the Hindu month of ‘Phalgun’ (February-March).
Guwahati-based Abantika Borthakur, a political science lecturer at Guwahati University, said that all through the day devotees keep a fast and chant the sacred mantras.
“As part of Maha Shivratri devotees keep fast, chant the sacred Panchakshara mantra ‘Om Namah Shivaya’, make offerings of flowers and incense to the Lord amidst ringing of temple bells,” Borthakur told IANS over the phone while she along with her husband were on their way to the nearby Lord Shiva temple.
Mumbai-based Priyakshi Kakodhar, who works with a fashion store, said: “I visited the temple in the morning and was dressed traditionally. I also give a litre of milk to the needy on this day every year.”
As part of the festival many devotees take bhang, considered to be Lord Shiva’s prasad. Temples are lit up and decorated and functions are hosted in the evening.
Suchi Raina, a Kashmiri Pandit, told IANS that Kashmiris celebrate Maha Shivratri a day earlier.
“The way we celebrate Maha Shivratri is completely different from others. We offer food and flowers to the brass and copper deities whom we refer to Lord Shiva and his family. These utensils are only used for this festivity,” she said.
Raina, who started observing fast on Maha Shivratri from last year, said she did not have in-depth knowledge about Lord Shiva earlier, and that several books on Lord Shiva drew her towards the celebration.
“This is the prime reason for me to keep the fast,” Raina said.
Agrees Naresh Lakhani from Valsad in Gujarat. He will not be observing a fast, but will actively participate in the programmes dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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