મહાશિવરાત્રી
‘ભવનાથ’ ખાતે પવિત્ર મૃગકુંડમાં શ્રદ્ધાળુઓ પવિત્ર સ્નાન કરી નિષ્પાપ બને છે. હજારોની સંખ્યામાં આ પવિત્ર સ્થાનમાં દર્શન માટે યાત્રીઓ આવે છે. મહાશિવરાત્રીના મહાસ્નાન બાદ મહાપૂજાની ભવ્ય યાત્રા નીકળે છે. જેમાં હજારોની સંખ્યામાં દર્શનાર્થીઓ, નાગા બાવાઓ, ભજન મંડળીઓ, સાધુ-સંતો અને નગરજનો જોડાય છે. અહીં સૌથી ધ્યાનાકર્ષક અને રોમાંચનો અનુભવ કરાવતી ઘટના એ નાગાબાવાઓના મુખ્ય મહંતની હાથી પર નીકળતી સવારી અને તેની પાછળ ધજાપતાકાઓ સાથે તેના અનુયાયીઓ નિહાળવાનો લાહવો અલૌકીક હોય છે. આ મેળામાં ભવાઇ, રાસગરબા, ડાયરો વગેરેની જમાવટ યાત્રાળુને આકર્ષિત કરે છે.
Mahashivratri
The celebration of Lord
Shiva's marriage to Goddess Parvati, Shivratri, imbues among the Hindus a
spirit of loyalty and dedication.
Maha Shivratri in Mauritius
Mahashivratri is a highly revered holiday in Mauritius. A month
prior to the festival, pilgrims begin their preparations here. People from
diverse societies around the island spend a lot of effort for Shivaratri
preparations. Sometimes they spend the entire night making exquisitely adorned
"Kanwars," which they take on their journey to Grand Bassin, also
called "Ganga Taloa."Pandit Gosain Naipaul made the discovery of the
Ganga Talao, a crater lake with a tiny island in the center, 108 years ago. We
are commemorating the discovery's 108th anniversary this year. A "Maha
Shiv Katha" has been planned in this regard. In the 1960s, holy water from
the Ganga was poured into the lake to make it hallowed.
About 5,000 pilgrims are welcomed at Montagne Blanche's
"Umanath Mandir," one of the island's most significant mandirs, which
provides them with food and lodging while they go to the holy lake. All around
the island, processions are planned on the eve of the Shivratri holiday. On the
day of the festival, the prayer begins at 4:00 am with "Shiv
Abhishek," and throughout the day, a great number of devotees swarm the
area to present Lord Shiva with fruits and holy water from the Ganga Talao in
the temples.
Following the afternoon session is "Char Pahar ki
Pooja." The pooja ceremony starts at 6.00 pm with the first Pahar. Maha
Abhishek is performed by the acharya. The second, third, and fourth paharis are
scheduled for 9:00 p.m., 12:00 p.m., and 3 a.m., respectively. The holy pooja
culminates with a ′Maha Yagya′ approximately 6:00 am next day.
On each pahar, devotees recite the Maha mantra "Om Namah Shivaye" 18,
216, 324, and 452 times, respectively. The ′Shivalay′ is filled with holy hymns
and bhajans throughout the night. The "Tandava" and plays about Lord
Shiva are performed by certain artists and communities.
As a result, Shivaratri brings the island's Hindu population
together. In Mauritius, it is one of the events that is observed with such
fervor.
HAR HAR MAHADEV
