Celebrating Maha Shivaratri in your Apartment Community

Maha Shivaratri in 2015 falls on February 17th (Tuesday). Devotees celebrate this day by performing puja and associating themselves with other activities like fasting, singing hymns and bhajans seeking the blessing of Lord Shiva, and performing Pooja Abhishek on Shiv linga. Below are some ideas for celebrating Maha Shivaratri in an apartment community.

 Why do we celebrate Shivaratri?

Lord Shiva is the Supreme God, “the Destroyer”, and is regarded as the patron god of yoga and is usually worshiped in the form of a Linga. There are many mythological legends associated with this day. According to a popular legend, during Samudra manthan or Churning of the Ocean, poison from Vasuki, the king of serpents, who was used as the churning rod was so powerful that it could destroy the whole of creation. Goddess Parvathi pleaded with Lord Shiva to save the world, as only Lord Shiva had the power to control and digest the poison. Lord Shiva agreed to save the world by drinking the poison. It is said that Maha Shivaratri is the day when Lord Shiva drank the poison; devotees celebrate this day with puja and fasting to thank god for protecting the universe.

According to another mythological legend, Maha Shivaratri marks the wedding day of Lord Shiva and Parvathi. Hence the day is considered to be extremely auspicious and observing fast in honor of Lord Shiva is considered to be especially auspicious for married women for the well-being of their husbands. It is also believed that if unmarried women observe fasting on this day, they will get married soon and to a husband like Lord Shiva who is regarded as the ideal husband.

Celebrating Maha Shivaratri in Apartment Community

• Bhajan Competition: Apartment managing committee (MC) or residents can organize bhajan competition in their apartment community.

• Shiv Puran Katha: It can be a drama or storytelling with elder people telling the stories of lord Shiva and how he got his mythological names.

• Shiv Ratri themed Fancy dress: Organize fancy dress competitions where participants must dress as mythological characters or as Lord Shiva. 

• Meditation program: If your apartment community has a yoga expert or you can invite him to conduct a meditation program in your apartment community.