Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated as an anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. It is also associated with 2 more events: the argument between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu and the event of Lord Shiva drinking the potion of poison to save the world.
Conscious celebration of this event is often associated with marital prosperity and happiness (for women), overcoming ignorance and personal evils, and self-introspection.
All the places of prime importance with Lord Shiva’s life celebrate this festival with great pomp and show. The extent of celebration varies from place to place. That’s why we are here to provide our female travelers with a list of the top 11 places to visit during Mahashivratri.
1. Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu
Recognized to have the ‘largest bust sculpture’ globally, Isha Yoga Centre is known to have the greatest and grandest Mahashivratri celebrations in the country.
The 550 ton statue of Lord Shiva sits right in the center of the celebration as thousands and lakhs of people gather around it for an overnight celebration. Events include meditation, singing, dancing, cultural programs, a Mahapooja, story-telling, and so on.
A large number of international followers also witness this event physically. The place of celebration is itself located in the foothills of the Velliangiri mountains, thus offering a panoramic view of the landscape and celebration.
Proper and absolutely safe seating and stay arrangements are made within the Yoga Centre. A visit to this celebration requires pre-registration at the center’s website. The event is run simultaneously on online platforms like YouTube and Instagram. You can check the trailer for this event on YouTube to get a clearer picture.
2. Mandi, Himachal Pradesh
Mandi is also known as “Chotti Kashi” as it has the most significant number of temples after Kashi. The entire district is known to be a devotee of Lord Shiva.
The celebration of Mahashivratri takes a global form as it attracts tourists from all over the world. This celebration is one of the largest globally and is popularly known as the “International Mahashivratri fair.”
The festival lasts for over three days. The first night is spent singing religious songs and folktales and inviting the ‘Devatas’ (local deities of Himachal Pradesh). The second day is the day of Mahashivratri, and the celebration reaches its peak.
The local Gods and their caravan greet and meet each other and dance to the sound of trumpets and Dhols. All local deities then wait for Lord Shiva while the gathered crowd dances and sings to the folk songs of the state.
The following night is celebrated through dance, meditation, and songs as it is believed by the locals that Lord Shiva attains the state of sleep after the sunsets. The final day of Mahashivratri sees a great fair full of traditional cuisine and handicrafts.
Known as the safest and most modernized district of HP, Mandi is one of the safest places for women solo and group travelers during Mahashivratri.
3. Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh
Varanasi is the name that is often associated with Lord Shiva. According to legends and some sacred texts, this place is believed to be the original home of Lord Shiva.
The site has several Shiva temples, and thus the festival of Shivaratri is also celebrated excellently. All the temples celebrate Mahashivratri by folklores and plays related to Lord Shiva’s life. A marriage procession of Lord Shiva starts from Mahamrityunjaya temple and goes to the Kashi Vishwanath temple.
Many people leave their houses dressed up as Lord Shiva and join this procession. Members of certain sects are also seen enacting the dance of Lord Shiva, Tandav. The celebration ends with a large-scale Pooja whereby things like Datura, Bhang, flowers, coconut, Bel leaves, milk, and fruits are offered to the Lord before he goes into sleep.
4. Haridwar
Haridwar is popularly known for its Ghat pooja. Usually, people visit this place to spread the ashes of their beloved dead in the river Ganga. However, this place also has great significance for Mahashivratri. A four-hour extended puja takes place at the Ghats on the occasion of Mahashivratri, witnessing a crowd of lakhs of people.
Before the celebration commences, people gather around the Har Ki Paudi (The stair to Lord Shiva). People believe that participating in the ‘Shahi Ganga Snan’ on this day brings joy in the coming year and washes off all the sins and wrongdoings of their life.
Some also believe that Lord Shiva visits this place for a short time on Mahashivratri and grants blessings to all his worshippers. Situated in the foothills of the serene Himalayas, the area is eternally beautiful and full of flowers and adequate sunlight around this time. It becomes a good travel option if you want a more extended vacation.
5. Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh
Khajuraho enjoys a vigorous Mahashivratri with a handicraft trade fair lasting over eleven days. A seven-day open-air auditorium celebration of classical dance takes place. As a traditional value, all the people enjoy a hot bath in the Sagar tank on Shivratri.
The night of Mahashivratri, the lingam of Kandariya Mahadeo, is decorated like a bridegroom with flowers, a dhoti, and a silver crown. Overnight chanting of mantras, slogans, and folksongs is seen in all the major Shiva temples of the area. At the end of these recitations, flowers and bel leaves are thrown at the lingam, indicating that the marriage is complete.
On the grounds of religious tourism, Khajuraho offers one of the most iconic, intricately designed, and grand temples in all of north and central India. As the place is full of devotees and temples, it is often considered ideal for female travelers.
6. Puri
Puri is known to have an utterly submerged lingam of Lord Shiva in a water pool throughout the year. The lingam comes to complete view three days before Pankodhar Ekadashi, also known as the night of Mahashivratri.
This annual event attracts a lot of tourists. Thus a massive celebration of Mahashivratri is seen in the Lokanath Temple, Puri. As per scriptures, many devotees practice a whole day fasting and offer bel leaves to gain boons in their yoga and meditation and achieve the state of ‘Moksha’ quickly.
7. Junagarh
Junagarh is the home of Naga Sadhu sections that live across the Gir forest and Bhavnath Talati. During the time of Shivratri, add these Naga Sadhus (originally the core devotees of Lord Shiva) to take out a grand parade to the annual Shivratri fair near Damodar Kund.
The train is carried out on giant elephants throughout the night, followed by sword fights and a lavish bath. This is the major attraction of this celebration. This place thus becomes a fantastic option to witness mysterious experiences, Sadhutva practices, cultural folktales, handicrafts, and ritual practices on Mahashivratri.
8. Ujjain
Home to one of the 12 Shiva Jyotirlingas, Mahakaelshwar temple, Ujjain also witnesses a vast Mahashivratri celebration on the banks of River Kshipra. This place is the fighting spot between Lord Shiva and the demon Dushana.
Lord Shiva is believed to have protected the town from the devil. As a result, all the local inhabitants offer their services and offerings (material and non-material) on the day of Mahashivratri.
According to the Madhya Pradesh Government, Ujjain has been declared the city of Mahashivratri this year, thus adding to the grandiose of celebrations.
9. Andhra Pradesh
In the southern parts of India, Andhra Pradesh is known to have a lot of temples dedicated to Lord Shiva. Sri Mallikarjuna Swamy Temple, another Jyotirlinga, witnesses significant Shivratri celebrations. However, the motive behind this celebration is not to celebrate his anniversary but to commemorate the day Lord Shiva performed the Tandav.
10. Somnath
Somnath is located in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat. The celebration of Mahashivratri is kept entirely religious here. The temple is adorned with flowers, lights, and rangolis. A large public display screen is put up for the visitors to witness the pooja.
The ‘Abhisheka’ of the Shiva Jyotirlinga occurs with milk, honey, sugar, ghee, yogurt, and then water. A feast is celebrated at the end of the pooja.
11. Kanchi Kailasanathar
It is a Shiva temple, made on the grounds of Dravidian architecture by Pallava rulers. The temple has intricate carvings of the presiding and subsidiary deities. The circular ambulatory pathway of the temple represents a transition from birth to death.
A grand festival is organized by the temple authorities on the occasion of Mahashivratri. Many people take part in this event to seek blessings from all the deities and Lord Shiva on this day.
If you plan to have a grand Mahashivratri celebration this year, do check out these places. However, some sources might state certain restrictions on touching the Shiva lingam or getting into its proximity at some temples. So, our female travelers should keep a check on this before visiting.