Maha Shivratri is a festival dedicated to Lord Shiva and is celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) in the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu calendar. The festival is celebrated by offerings of Bael leaves to the Lord Shiva and devotees also observe fasts. Devotees strongly believe that sincere worship of Lord Shiva on the auspicious day of Shivratri absolves a person of sins and liberates him from the cycle of birth and death. People also visit temples and offer pooja of Shivalingam by bathing it with milk, yogurt and water amidst the chanting of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and ringing of temple bells.
