Mahashivratri<O:P> </O:P>

As the name indicates this festival is celebrated in honour of Shiva, the third God of the Hindu Trinity. This is the night when he is said to have performed the Tandava or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.<O:P> </O:P>

In temples all across the country, bells ring, and sacred texts are chanted and traditional offerings of leaves and milk are made to the Shiva lingam, the phallic symbol of the god.<O:P> </O:P>

Every month in the Hindu calendar has listed the thirteenth day of the darker half of the month as Shivratri i.e. 'Shiva's great night'. Shivratri falls in the Krishan Paksh, in the month of Magha and is celebrated all over the country as 'Mahashivratri'. On the day of Shivratri, the lingam is bathed with the five sacred offerings of a cow; called the panchagavya - milk, sour milk, urine, butter and dung. Thereafter the five foods of immortality - milk, clarified butter, curd, honey and sugar - are placed before the lingam. <O:P></O:P>

All over the world the devotees of Shiva will fast through out the day<O:P> </O:P>