Photo credits: Ramesh Kidangoor

Maha Shivaratri means “the great night of Shiva”. Shiva- the name meaning auspicious- is one of the Hindu Trinity, comprised of Lord Brahma The Creator; Lord Vishnu The Preserver and Lord Shiva The Destroyer. This festival is said to commemorate the day on which Shiva protected the world by drinking a pot of poison that had the power to destroy the entire universe.

The Goddess Parvathi herself plays a role in the story by grabbing Shiva’s neck to prevent the poison from spreading throughout the world, which turned Shiva’s neck blue. It is also believed that on this day Lord Shiva married the Parvathi again. The Shiva Temple on the banks of the Periyar River, near Cochi attracts a huge number of devotees across the state.

Half Shiva and Parvathi

Procession of Maha Shivaratri