Maha Shivaratri (or the great night of Lord Shiva) is an important Hindu festival celebrated annually in the honour of Lord Shiva. It is observed by remembering Lord Shiva along chanting prayers, fasting & lightning sacred fires whole night as a celebration of his birth.
Shiva is one of the three of the main deities of Hinduism. He is regarded as the quintessential destroyer or transformer. As the cycle of destruction and recreation is always in a circle, Shiva’s primary responsibility is maintaining the life cycle. The other two being, Lord Brahma – the creator and lord Vishnu – the Protector.
Pashupatinath temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Pashupati, Lord of the Animals, who protect and care for all men. It is also believed that Lord Shiva once roamed as a deer in the forest behind Pashupatinath.
Hindu devotees on this night throng Shiva shrines everywhere, but the grandest of all activities revolve around the 2,000-year-old Pashupatinath temple located on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River.
