Maha Shivaratri - fasting and eating together
Most important festival to celebrate in honor of Lord Shiva
Maha Shivaratri is a very important festival for us, and is celebrated across the country in various places with some different rituals. It has got another name at my place : Jagara. Though legends have different versions of the significance of this day ( such as on this day, Lord Shiva performed the heavenly dance of creation, preservation and destruction or on this day he married Parvati ), the devotees believe that praying the Lord and keeping a fasting on this day, the lord fulfills their wish). Unmarried girls and boys keep fasting in the belief that they will get a good life partner - the beauty of our culture to find a reason to do fasting at least. And then after all day fasting in the evening the devotees lighten the diyas in the temple premise and finally the main diya (Mahadipa) is taken to the top of the temple, as you can see in the video. The devotees circle around the temple seven times enchanting hymn, before the Mahadipa is taken to the top. We have this Lord Shiva temple in our society premise and this is celebrated in a grand way every year. At the end, a drink made up of fruits, milk, curd, jaggery and other nuts is served to everyone. The beautification of the temple had been going since last two weeks, to set up the perfect ambience.
Every year, a vegan feast is also served to all the members of the society. This year, it was decided to do it yesterday - the reason being ,most people will be available as it was Sunday. And I must say anything that is prepared in honor of the God at the temple has very unique and delicious taste and nobody wants to miss them.
The arrangements were done for 300 - 400 people, having several items - a Khichdi rice, a dalma ( dal with vegetables), the tomato khatta (with dates), a cauliflower fry and a sweet khir for the fine finishing. And many people generously contributed big amounts for this making this feasible. The cook came with his team of people by afternoon and made everything ready in just 4 hours. The good thing is that the society owns all these utensils and they were kept ready.
Even though people were requested to come after 7.30 pm, nobody turned around so early, so the serving started around 8.30 pm. My wife and daughter ate in the first batch, but me and my son joined late after playing badminton. The main arrangement was done to sit on the floor surrounding the temple, but then some tables were laid out for senior citizens.
Overall a great evening - I love the socialism in this kind of festivals - they are real stress busters. Everyone taking time off and joining together at one place and then that face to face discussions, laughing, gossiping - they are much better than the digital counterparts.
We stayed there till 11 pm in the night. A lot of food remained even after everyone finished eating, so residents were requested to take as much as they can. For the first time, we brought some rice and dalma, as they were available in big quantities, and today is Monday - another auspicious day.
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The festival is so important. So much cooking and everything is so organized. You arrive in the evening !
One of the most celebrated event.
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The day seems to be well organized and celebrated and quite a lot of food is seen.
It was more than what we could consume.
Eating together is such a nice thing. Happy Maha Shivrati @sanjeevm
It's a whole different experience, Har Har Mahadev.
What a beautiful festival. Plus the vegan preparations look simply delicious.
Thanks for sharing @sanjeevm . Blessings 🌟🌻💫✨🤗🌻💫✨🤗🤗🙏🏻🙏🏻
Those kinds of memories together makes bond more stronger
The real bond.
how are you dear friend @sanjeevm good day
What a beautiful celebration, I love how everyone enjoys this type of event gathered as a community. Beautiful shots, I loved the video
I appreciate you letting us know the details of your traditions dear friend.
have a happy and prosperous week
From the photos the event looks very organized and well planned. From the decorations, to the cooking and socialism. I'm sure it was a great event. Great work I must say to the organizers and also everyone who took out time to attend the event.
It was indeed a great event.
I wish I could join this feast over there. In my childhood I used to do fasting on Shivaratri and other festivals but now unable to do so.
Fasting is good for health.
Happy Maha Shivrati to you and all Hindu citizens. Such a better moment stay with beloved family. Beautiful decorations I could see. Yeah anyone don't need to miss these delicious foods.
Thank you.
Har har mahadev...
I used to celebrate it when I was into yoga.
Good to know that, so the Yoga Guru was celebrating ?
Yep. The guru was and is a scam though. He loved money and women more than he loved yoga...
Then his career would have finished soon. You can't keep doing wrong for a long time.
His career is still doing well. Plebs...
A really important holiday. These habits are very important. It concerns ourselves and future generations.
@sanjeevm Such a religious event to celebrate together and have some really spiritual time chanting Om Namah Shivay...Har Har Mahadev... and have Prasaad sitting together.
Thanks for sharing this post, Sanjeev.
Stay connected ! :)
Best Regards,
Amit
😉😎🤙 what a cool and nice event! I like how everyone fasts together, but then feasts afterwards..
talk about serving/cooking in bulk. I couldn't imagine making so much food at once.
They are skilled cooks, sometimes they cook for more than thousands of people.
whoa! 😮
Glad to see you are celebrating this event with your family and friends. The biggest thing is that whenever there is one like this, everyone gathers together and meets each other, so it feels so much better and the way we see you all sitting together. Yes, this is a very good thing.
I have always loved the culture of your friend country since they are so devoted to their customs, holding a dinner for around 300 to 400 people should not be easy and it seems incredible that for the first time they could take some food home
Socialization at its best in such events.
It's true those events are great for socializing and meeting people from all over the country
It's a great time for you to celebrate with your family and friends. Enjoy your day sir.
Thank you so much.
Every Religion has their own festivals and Celebrations, We fast during the month of Ramadan and we do it for 30 days, in these 30 Days , we eat Together at the time Maghrib to open Fasting. You are looking handsome in this dress @sanjeevm
Yes, I know, Ramadan is a big festival for you guys.
Yes, it is. holi , raksha bandhan are big Festivals for you. and there are many more.
Creating fun memories. Is it considered light meals with veggies?
Kind of light as its a vegan meal ,but then its so delicious that we end up eating a lot and the Khir (sweet) was awesome - I almost took 8 cups :)
I love how these post sometimes allow us to look at other cultures, and enjoy them, as most of the time we never get to do that with normal media, thank you for sharing your culture with us :)
great the festivals and traditions of your country. That I prepared a large amount of food and enjoying it with family and friends makes it even better
Har Har Mahadev. Nice my dear friend you are celebrate the maha Shivaratri. And you and your son are looking very handsome in our traditional look
Wow, that's a great story!
I was fasting as well during Maha Shivaratri to attend it in a purified and energetic way. It has been great (even if I am happily married)