Mahashivratri Celebrated Nationwide with Deep Devotion as Lakhs Throng Shiva Temples

New Delhi, Feb 2026 : Mahashivratri, one of the most sacred festivals in the Hindu calendar, was celebrated with immense devotion, spiritual fervour, and elaborate rituals across the country on Sunday. From early morning hours, lakhs of devotees gathered at prominent Shiva temples and pilgrimage sites, offering prayers, observing fasts, and participating in night-long vigils to mark the auspicious occasion dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Across states, long queues, special pujas, abhisheks, and holy dips defined the celebrations, while authorities put in place extensive security and administrative arrangements to ensure smooth crowd movement and uninterrupted darshan.

In Jharkhand, massive crowds were witnessed at the revered Baba Baidyanath Dham, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva. Devotees lined up from the early hours of the morning to seek blessings at the Baba Baidyanath Jyotirlinga Temple. Priests performed special rituals and abhisheks throughout the day. A temple priest said that Mahashivratri marks the sacred union of Baba Baidyanath and Goddess Parvati, adding that the grand night procession held on this occasion attracts lakhs of devotees every year.

In Maharashtra, devotees gathered in large numbers at the historic Aundha Nagnath Temple, another revered Jyotirlinga site. Special prayers and offerings were conducted as worshippers chanted hymns and sought the blessings of Lord Nageshwar on the auspicious night.

Uttar Pradesh also witnessed a massive spiritual turnout as Mahashivratri coincided with the final bathing day of the Magh Mela. At the Sangam ghats, lakhs of devotees took a holy dip at the confluence of the Ganga, Yamuna, and the mythical Saraswati rivers. Magh Mela Officer Rishi Raj said that nearly 10 lakh devotees had taken the sacred dip since the previous night, underscoring the scale of the gathering.

In Varanasi, devotees thronged the iconic Kashi Vishwanath Temple to offer prayers to Baba Vishwanath. Many devotees arrived at midnight to participate in the special rituals. One worshipper said they received darshan in the early hours between 4:30 and 5:00 a.m. To manage the crowd, police and administrative officials implemented strict measures. DCP Gaurav Banswal said that barricades were installed along the ghats, queues were carefully organized, and security personnel monitored the situation, including supervision from boats in the river.

SDM Shambhu Sharan noted the deep enthusiasm among the people of Kashi, stating that devotees had been standing in long queues since early morning to offer prayers in the temple courtyard.

In Madhya Pradesh, the spiritually charged Mahakaleshwar Temple in Ujjain witnessed the grand Bhasma Aarti amid Vedic chants and devotional songs. Priests said that the celebrations of Shiv Navratri and Mahashivratri were being observed with great reverence in the courtyard of Baba Mahakal, drawing devotees from across the state and beyond.

At Raisen Fort, the gates of the Someshwar and Mahadev temples were opened early in the morning under administrative supervision. Tehsildar Bharat Mandare said extensive arrangements had been made to facilitate smooth darshan and prevent inconvenience to devotees visiting the historic site.

In Rajasthan, a large number of devotees visited the Saipau Mahadev Temple, offering prayers and performing rituals with devotion throughout the day.

Mahashivratri commemorates the divine union of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and symbolizes spiritual awakening, renunciation, and inner transformation. Observed with fasting, meditation, and night-long worship, the festival holds immense religious significance for devotees.

Across the country, Mahashivratri was marked by faith, discipline, and spiritual enthusiasm. With coordinated efforts by temple authorities and local administrations, the celebrations concluded peacefully, reflecting the enduring devotion of millions who gathered to honour Lord Shiva on this sacred day.