On the fourteenth day of Phalgun, one of the most auspicious and popular holidays of India, Maha Shivratri is celebrated. Literally this translates to 'The Great Night of Shiva’; with which, this festival is particularly dedicated to Shiva the destroyer.
This is an imperative day for the devotees of Shiva, who stay awake throughout the night, praying to seek blessings from him. Similarly, here at the Vedic Heritage Temple, for the third consecutive year, Maha Shivratri had been celebrated with great enthusiasm and boundless exuberance.
The evening started with the first of the “Char Prahar Poojas” at 7:30 PM. The Shiv Shakti Mandir looked extravagant, adorned with sculptures, malas and lights. Devotees filled the temple, ready to become a part of the grand pooja; they brought many offerings such as bel patra, ber, Madaar flowers (Shivji’s favorite), fruit and milk. Pandit Rameshji rhythmically commenced the Samoohik Pooja leading into a momentous “Om Namah Shivay” chant echoing throughout the temple.
One of the main attractions of our Maha Shivratri event was the stunning Barfani Baba (Shivlinga) ice sculpture, sponsored by Mrs. Beena Singh from Arizona. Also, the delicious prasad provided after aarti was sponsored by Mrs. Yogita Vikas Anand. Another highlight in the event was Balaji and Renu Jain’s magnificent performance. For nearly an hour they sang Shiva Bhajans and Shlokas creating an even more holy atmosphere. As the night grew, the ambiance of Maha Shivratri was felt everywhere and by everyone. Once again the brass bell hanging from the ceiling swayed on its own, portraying Shivji’s undeniable grace.
Nonetheless, events like this are impossible to put together without the help of our volunteers: Manju Ben, Ramesh Bhai, Jyoti Ben, Pushpa Ben, Bhakti Gadkar, Jigna, Beena Sabhapati, Sandeep Sehegal, Anand Tiwari, Anil Sharma, Sat Sharma, Yogita Anand, Poonam Kumar, Balaji & Family, Asha Verma & Family and especially our forty- five sponsors. Without you all, this event could not have possibly been as successful as it has.
