Herath celebrated across J&K

SRINAGAR — Despite inclement weather conditions, Maha Shivratri, known as ‘Herath’ in Kashmir, was celebrated with religious fervour and gaiety on Thursday.

Devotees including Kashmiri Pandits thronged Hanuman temple on the banks of river Jhelum in Amirakadal here and offered prayers.

Reports said that the largest congregation in connection with the festival was witnessed at Shiv temple, Shankaracharya hill in the city.

“This is a festival in honor of Lord Shiva as on this day, Shiva got married to Parvati,” Manoj Kumar, a devotee said.

Reports from Jammu said that all the Shiva temples in Jammu were decorated and people were seen standing in long queues in front of all the temples, particularly at Aap Shamboo Mandir, Roop Nagar and Ranbireshwa, Panjbakhtar Mandir, Peer Kho and others since early this morning. They were waiting for their turn to have ‘Darshan’ of “Lord Shiva and Maa Parvati.”

Shivratri, literally the night of Shiva, is one of the most important occasions of the Hindu calendar, typically falling each year on the 14TH day/night of the dark half of the month of the Phalguna (February–March).

Lt Governor Manoj Sinha and his advisors besides politicians greeted people on the occasion.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, P K Pole, also joined the prayers at Shakaracharya temple alongwith other devotees despite rain since early this morning.