PINK CITY MAHASHIVRATRI

PINK CITY MAHASHIVRATRI

LT COL NOEL ELLIS

20/II/2026

India is a land of festivals and celebrations. With so many Gods, Goddesses and Deities to seek blessings from, there is an event happening everyday somewhere in the country. That’s why we are such a vibrant and vivacious country.

The festival of Mahashivratri is one of them. It is the "Great Night of Shiva," which is a major Hindu festival celebrated annually in the Phalgun month to honour Lord Shiva, marking the union of Shiva and Parvati. It is also the night when he performed the Tandav dance (the cosmic dance of creation, preservation, and destruction).

Devotees observe fasting, meditate, and perform ‘Abhishek’ or anointing Lord Shiva’s idol with milk and honey to gain spiritual growth, inner stillness, and self-realization.

My cousin, a renowned photographer in a popular daily, shared photos and videos of the event on his return from the Mahashivratri celebrations and specifically the Bhasma aarti which was done in the honour of Lord Shiva the destroyer.

The whole event was unique, captivating, appealing, a little scary but fascinating and eye-catching. The way the devotees immersed themselves in this grand event is worth a mention. I had heard of the Bhasma (Ash) Arti of Ujjain but I got to see the coverage at Jaipur for the first time. It was mind blowing indeed.

That got me to find out more about the “Bhasma Arti” which is a sacred ritual performed in honour of Lord Shiva, especially in his aspect as “Mahakaal”, the supreme Lord and destroyer. The word “Bhasma” means ‘holy ash’, which symbolizes the transience of life and the ultimate reality of death and rebirth.

One had never seen such devotion ever. People dressed as Shiv and Parvati and in costumes with human heads was something unique. The ash smeared bodies of people and the fire eater’s dance was enchanting. The shake of their ‘Jatta’ entangled and matted hair full of ash was just captivating.

The ritual uses ‘sacred ash’ to worship Lord Shiva, symbolizing his mastery over death. Shiva represents the cosmic force that consumes everything at the end of time. Smearing his idol with ash, made from wood and cow dung used at cremation grounds signifies both purification and detachment from the physical world.

Along with Bhasma Aarti, symbolic representations such as Shiva-Parvati wedding rituals and ‘Tandav’ dance performances by artists are part of the devotional programme. Ash reminds devotees of life’s impermanence and Shiva’s transcendence over mortality.

I wish I could have witnessed the ritual live. The energy of the participants who danced nonstop for many hours was appreciable.

The area was jam packed with people trying to get a glimpse of their lord and the be part of the jamboree which was unfolding. Chanting praises and devotional songs by the congregation and people who participated showed their deep faith in the powers of the Lord. Seeing is believing.

May Lord Shiva bless you all and keep you under his wings. Hope you had a very eventful and blessed Mahashivratri.

Enjoy the short you tube video clip-- https://youtu.be/gKD1Q1tcwAo

Have you ever seen such devotion? I wonder!!!!!!!

JAI HIND

Photos-Courtesy Mr Anugrah Solomon

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