MahaShivratri is celebrated with religious fervor all over the country. MahaShivratri falls on the I3th (or I4th) day of the dark half of Phalgun (February-March). The literal meaning of Shivratri is "the night of Shiva Devotees believe that Lord Shiva was tied in knot with Parvati, on the auspicious day of Shivratri.
Devotees pray to Lord Shiva and sing Shiva hymns for whole night. Special programs are organized on the occasion at Shiva temples all over the country. Mhashivratri is observed in great esteem not only in India but also in Nepal and Mauritius.
Grand festivities are observed at Sri Kalahasti temple in Andhra Pradesh on the occasion of Mahashivratri. Shri kalahasti is one of the popular pilgrimages for Shiva devotees in Andhra Pradesh. This sacred place is situated between two steep hills, called Sripuram and Mummidicholapuram and it is generally believed that the place was the part of Seshasaila or Mount Meru, in the ancient days.
Shri kalahasti temple is also referred as Dakshina Kailasam. Shri kalahasti temple of Andhra Pradesh is also popular for the puja of sarp yoga. Large numbers of pilgrims throng to this religious centre on the pious occasion of Shivratri in the Tamil month of Maasi. This period is marked by many festivities in Andhra Pradesh and especially the fifth day of the month coincides with MahaShivratri, huge religious amalgamation of pilgrims is observed on the day.
Religious celebrations at Shri kalahasti temple include colorful processions of the deities taken by devotees. Pilgrims offer their prayer to lord Shiva for seeking blessings in order to attain salvation. Special puja is performed on the day of shivratri accompanied by abhishek of Lord Shiva’s idol.
How to Reach:
Kalahasti is easily accessible from Tirupati and Chennai by road as these are the nearest airports from Kalahasti.