This Tuesday, March 1, 2022, the Hindu community will celebrate Maha Shivaratri which is also known as the great night of Shiva. Being one of the most important celebrations in the Hindu calendar, on this day, the devotees of the deity fast the whole day till the next morning. Special prayers are said in all the Shiv Mandir (temples) from early morning where devotees of Lord Shiva pour water on the Lingam and offerings of Bael (Bel Tree) leaves to Lord Shiva. During the night of the celebration, the ‘Char Pehel puja’ is performed while reciting ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ throughout the night.
Why is Maha Shivaratri celebrated? Maha Shivaratri is mentioned in several Puranas (Hindu literature) and presents different versions of this festival and refers to the icons of Shiva. Considered to be the day Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvati; Maha Shivaratri is also the night when Shiva is said to have performed the Tandava Nritya, or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction. According to believers, this saved the world from destruction. Hindu scholars say that Maha Shivaratri was the day when Shiva drank toxic negativity to protect the world. Maha Shivaratri is observed to mark a memory of “overcoming darkness and ignorance” in life and the world. Unlike most festivals, is celebrated at night and is a solemn event.
In Mauritius, the celebration normally begins with a 10-day fast before the great night of Shiva. A few days before the celebration, devotees from all over the country make a pilgrimage carrying a huge kawar to Ganga Talao (Grand Bassin) to take the sacred water from the lake which will then be poured on the Lingam during the ‘Char Pehel puja’ in their respective localities.
This year, unfortunately due to health restrictions, the celebrations are being held in different ways. Only small groups of 10 people at a time are allowed to make their pilgrimage carrying very small kawars. On Maha Shivratri day, only 10 people will be allowed in the temples during the day and no member of the public will be allowed to attend the “Char Pehel Puja” but will be able to follow the prayers live on TV and social media platforms.
