Kathmandu, February 24 (The Sun/NIA): Maha Shivaratri on February 24 marks the birth as well as marriage of the Hindu God Shiva and is celebrated in an especially grand way at the Pasupathinath temple in Kathmandu, the capital of Nepal.
While most people turn up in colorful costumes and sing and dance glorifying Lord Shiva who saved the universe by drinking a deadly poison which would have destroyed the world, the Sadhus or ascetics observe it in a distinct way. They smoke marijuana, play with snakes, worship skulls,paint their faces in multi-colors and daub their bodies with vibhuti or holy ash. Some even walk about naked blessing the throng. The festival attracts a lot of women. While the married pray for the welfare of their husbands, the unmarried pray to get a good groom as Shiva himself has the reputation of being the best husband in the world. Men and women fast on this day.
Here are some pictures published in The Sun of UK.
(The photographs appeared in The Sun of UK)
