Curated by Manjiri Patil| February 28, 2025
Millions of devotees in India are celebrating Shivaratri, a festival dedicated to honoring the Hindu god Shiva
Image Credit: AP
Devotees perform rituals like pouring water or milk over the Shiva linga, a stone sculpture symbolizing Shiva.
Image Credit: AP
Some followers observe a fast during the day and stay up all night, participating in prayers, singing, and dancing to religious songs.
Image Credit: AP
Hindu holy men, or Sadhus, engage in practices like smoking marijuana (permitted during Shivaratri) and smearing their bodies with ash as acts of devotion.
Image Credit: AP
The Shivaratri festival is also celebrated at the Pashupati temple in Nepal, attracting devotees from both India and Nepal.
Image Credit: AP
Hindus make up about 80% of India’s 1.4 billion population, with many traveling to Nepal for Shivaratri celebrations.
Image Credit: AP
Shivaratri festival coincides with the last day of the Maha Kumbh festival, over 500 million people have attended the festival so far this year.
Image Credit: AP
A large number of devotees arrived at Maha Kumbh to bathe in Sangam of the Ganges, Yamuna, and Saraswati on the auspicious day of Shivaratri
Image Credit: AP