Amid strict security arrangements across the state, thousands of devotees reached at Kashi Vishwanath and other Shiva temples and offered jalabhishek on the occasion of Mahashivratri. According to reports from Varanasi people in large number taking holy dip in Ganga River and offering jalabhishek and special prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple since early morning. Due to high alert, heavy security was put into force at important Shiv temples and special security checks were in place at the Kashi Vishwanath temple. <br/><br/>In Allahabad, huge number of devotees took holy dip at sangam this morning and offered their obeisance to lord shiva in various temples including historic mankameshwar temple . Devotees in large number also offered prayer at Nageshwar nath temple in Ayodhya ,Bhimsen temple in Mainpuri and Baba Augharnath temple in Meerut on the occasion of Shivratri. In different places, Shiv Barat and shobha yatras are also being organized on this occasion.<br/><br/>Delhi Police has tightened security at major temples in the city today in view of Mahashivratri festival, amid a terror alert in the national capital and other major metros. A meeting of the top brass of Delhi Police was held following which all Deputy Commissioners were instructed to heighten vigil in their districts. Police is patrolling around temples . Security at popular markets, metro stations, railway stations and bus terminus has also been stepped up.<br/><br/>In Madhya Pradesh, fairs have been organized at Shiv temples and processions of Shiv Barats will be taken out in the afternoon. AIR correspondent reports, in Ujjain, scores of devotees took part in Bhasma Arti held in Mahakaleshwar temple at early wee hours. Special arrangements have been made in the temple premises to maintain queues of devotees. In Omkareshwar of Khandwa district, devotees are taking holy dip in river Narmada in large numbers. The famous Mahadev Mela has reached to its peaks in hill station Panchmarhi today. At historic Bhojeshwar temple near capital Bhopal, a three day Bhojpur festival starts this evening.<br/><br/><br/>In Rajasthan, Mahashivratri is being celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety across the state today.This time Mahashivratri becomes even more auspicious for the devotees as it is being celebrated on monday. A large number of devotees are reaching Lord Shiva temples since early morning and offering jalabhishek of holy water, milk and honey and offering bilwa leaves on shivling. <br/><br/>In Jammu & Kashmir, the Mahashivratri is being celebrated across Kashmir with religious fervor and gaiety. Temples in Kashmir wore a festive look as devotees made a beeline to participate in the special prayers. The festival holds an important place among Kashmiri Pandits who celebrate it to mark the wedding of Shiva and Parvati by cooking traditional Kashmiri food, especially fish. The occurrence of rain or snowfall on this day is considered to be a good omen.Kashmiri Pandits consider it as one of the most important festivals that is actually celebrated for three days. The three-day festival will end on Tuesday with final prayers. <br/><br/>In Himachal Pradesh, temples have been decorated beautifully on the occasion of Mahashivratri festival. AIR correspondent reports that special Puja and Havan Yazna's are underway in these temples.The Mandi town is known as Chotti Kaashi, as there are hundreds of God Shiva's temples including age old historic Bhoot Nath temple.<br/><br/>In Odisha, on the occasion Mahashivratri today, since morning heavy crowd of devotees witnessed in Shiva temples across the State. People of different age groups, including children, young and elders, thronged the temples for paying obeisance to Lord Shiva and offering milk and water on the holy Shivlingam. <br/><br/>In Tamil Nadu, Maha Shivarathri festival is being celebrated today with religious fervour in all temples of Lord Shiva. Special poojas are being held today in Lord Siva temples in Chidambaram Natarajar, Tiruchi Tiruvanaikaval, Thanjai Brihadeeswarar, Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy temples. AIR correspondent reports, thousands of pilgrims thronged Siva temples for special poojas on Mahasivaratri day. Natyanjali festival will begin in Chidambaram Natarajar Temple today evening. <br/><br/>In Kerala, large number of devotees have gathered at Shiva temples across the state since early morning on the occasion of Mahashivaratri festival today. Thousands of devotees offered special prayers at the Aluva Shiva temple in Ernakulam district. A week-long fair and cultural programmes have also been organised as part of the Shivratri festivities.<br/><br/>The festival of Maha Shivratri was celebrated in all over country and abroad with religious fervor and gaiety. Historical Shiv Temple in Kalanaur town of district Gurdaspur in Punjab was also decorated for the celebrations. People from country and abroad visited temple to offer milk, fruit and flowers on Shivling.

Amid strict security arrangements across the state, thousands of devotees reached at Kashi Vishwanath and other Shiva temples and offered jalabhishek on the occasion of Mahashivratri. According to reports from Varanasi people in large number taking holy dip in Ganga River and offering jalabhishek and special prayers at Kashi Vishwanath temple since early morning. Due to high alert, heavy security was put into force at important Shiv temples and special security checks were in place at the Kashi Vishwanath temple. <br/><br/>In Allahabad, huge number of devotees took holy dip at sangam this morning and offered their obeisance to lord shiva in various temples including historic mankameshwar temple . Devotees in large number also offered prayer at Nageshwar nath temple in Ayodhya ,Bhimsen temple in Mainpuri and Baba Augharnath temple in Meerut on the occasion of Shivratri. In different places, Shiv Barat and shobha yatras are also being organized on this occasion.<br/><br/>Delhi Police has tightened security at major temples in the city today in view of Mahashivratri festival, amid a terror alert in the national capital and other major metros. A meeting of the top brass of Delhi Police was held following which all Deputy Commissioners were instructed to heighten vigil in their districts. Police is patrolling around temples . Security at popular markets, metro stations, railway stations and bus terminus has also been stepped up.<br/><br/>In Madhya Pradesh, fairs have been organized at Shiv temples and processions of Shiv Barats will be taken out in the afternoon. AIR correspondent reports, in Ujjain, scores of devotees took part in Bhasma Arti held in Mahakaleshwar temple at early wee hours. Special arrangements have been made in the temple premises to maintain queues of devotees. In Omkareshwar of Khandwa district, devotees are taking holy dip in river Narmada in large numbers. The famous Mahadev Mela has reached to its peaks in hill station Panchmarhi today. At historic Bhojeshwar temple near capital Bhopal, a three day Bhojpur festival starts this evening.<br/><br/><br/>In Rajasthan, Mahashivratri is being celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety across the state today.This time Mahashivratri becomes even more auspicious for the devotees as it is being celebrated on monday. A large number of devotees are reaching Lord Shiva temples since early morning and offering jalabhishek of holy water, milk and honey and offering bilwa leaves on shivling. Special programmes on the occasion of Mahashivratri are being organised at Jharkhand Mahadev & Tadkeshwar temple in Jaipur, Eklingji temple in Udaipur and Ghushmeshwar Jyotiirlinga in Swai Madhopur.<br/><br/><br/>In Jammu & Kashmir, the Mahashivratri is being celebrated across Kashmir with religious fervor and gaiety. Temples in Kashmir wore a festive look as devotees made a beeline to participate in the special prayers. The festival holds an important place among Kashmiri Pandits who celebrate it to mark the wedding of Shiva and Parvati by cooking traditional Kashmiri food, especially fish. The occurrence of rain or snowfall on this day is considered to be a good omen.Kashmiri Pandits consider it as one of the most important festivals that is actually celebrated for three days. On the first day special 'Poojas' are held in all temples especially the Shiva temples and on the second day Kashmiri Muslims visit the houses of Pandits and extend their greetings.<br/><br/> The three-day festival will end on Tuesday with final prayers. This festival has become a symbol of communal harmony and in local jargon the second day is known as 'Salam' because it is on this day kashmiri Pandits get greetings from the Muslim brethren. The biggest gathering takes place at Shankaracharya Temple situated on hillock overlooking Dal Lake in Srinagar city. Hundreds of local Pandits and tourists were seen visiting the Temple for performing the 'Shiv Pooja'. Yesterday, hundreds of devotees visited Khir Bhawani temple at Tulmulla in district Ganderbal. The temple authorities at Ganpatyar and Hanuman Mandir at Amira Kadal in Srinagar also held special 'Poojas' followed by celebrations yesterday evening.<br/><br/>In Himachal Pradesh, temples have been decorated beautifully on the occasion of Mahashivratri festival. AIR correspondent reports that special Puja and Havan Yazna's are underway in these temples.The Mandi town is known as Chotti Kaashi, as there are hundreds of God Shiva's temples including age old historic Bhoot Nath temple. People are thronging to these temples since early morning and are offering Milk, Belpatra and fruits to the God Shiva. Similarly in Baijnath town of Kangra district people in large number are reaching at Shiva temples. Tight security arrangements have been made.<br/><br/><br/>In Odisha, on the occasion Mahashivratri today, since morning heavy crowd of devotees witnessed in Shiva temples across the State. People of different age groups, including children, young and elders, thronged the temples for paying obeisance to Lord Shiva and offering milk and water on the holy Shivlingam. Famous shrines including Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar, Kapilash in Dhenkanal, Akhandalamani in Bhadrak, Gupteswar in Korapu, Loknath in Puri, Dhabaleswar in Cuttack, Vedavyasa in Rourkela and Harishankar in Bolangir are beautifully decorated and illuminated with buntings and fancy lights. Special arrangements were made for celebration of the day in various ways like the Mahadeep ritual, Bhajan Samaroha and cultural programmes in the evening. As the 'Mahadeep' ritual held at night witnessed a large number of devotees, elaborate security arrangements were made for providing hassle free Darshan of lord at the temples.<br/><br/><br/><br/>In Tamil Nadu, Maha Shivarathri festival is being celebrated today with religious fervour in all temples of Lord Shiva. Special poojas are being held today in Lord Siva temples in Chidambaram Natarajar, Tiruchi Tiruvanaikaval, Thanjai Brihadeeswarar, Rameswaram Ramanathaswamy temples. AIR correspondent reports, thousands of pilgrims thronged Siva temples for special poojas on Mahasivaratri day. Natyanjali festival will begin in Chidambaram Natarajar Temple today evening. In the five day festival artists will perform classical dances like Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. In Thanjavur Big Temple Brihan Natyanjali festival is being organised from today. Sivalaya Ottam the symbol of Saivite-Vaishnavite unity started from Kanniyakumari Tirumala Mahadevar temple. The pilgrims will go through twelve Siva temples including Thikuurissi, Thripparappu, Tirunandikara and reach Nattalam Sankaranarayana temple tomorrow.<br/><br/><br/>In Kerala, large number of devotees have gathered at Shiva temples across the state since early morning on the occasion of Mahashivaratri festival today. Thousands of devotees offered special prayers at the Aluva Shiva temple in Ernakulam district. A week-long fair and cultural programmes have also been organised as part of the Shivratri festivities. Aluva Shivaratri is the unique Shivaratri celebration held on the banks of the Periyar River at Aluva. The banks of the river is popularly referred as Aluva Sivaratri Manappuram. The highlight of the festival includes the Bali ritual and reading of the Holy Scriptures associated with Lord Shiva. Hindu devotees spend the whole night without sleeping on the banks of the Periyar River.