Staff Reporter
Calangute/Bicholim
Mahashivratri was celebrated across the state on Wednesday with devotion, and joy. The festival, which marks the divine wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, is also associated with Shiva’s Tandava dance, symbolizing creation and destruction.
A large number of devotees thronged the Lord Shiva temple at Lingbhat, Parra, from early morning to offer prayers and perform rituals.
Worshippers of all ages stood in long queues to perform the abhishek, bathing the Shiva linga with milk, and making offerings of flowers, fruits, and sacred bilva leaves.
The temple was beautifully decorated, enhancing the spiritual atmosphere. While celebrations continued throughout the day, the abhishek was primarily conducted in the early morning.
The heavy influx of devotees led to long queues of vehicles along the road leading to the temple.
At Bicholim, Mahashivratri was celebrated on a grand scale at the Shri Rudreshwar Temple in Harvalem, Shri Saptakoteshwar Temple in Narve-Bicholim, and Shri Vathadev Temple in Vathadev-Bicholim.
Thousands of devotees visited Shri Rudreshwar Temple, took a holy dip in the Harvalem waterfall, and sought the blessings of Lord Rudreshwar.
Chief Minister Pramod Chavan, along with his wife, offered prayers to Lord Rudreshwar at Harvalem, seeking good health and prosperity for the people of Goa.
A palanquin procession and a drama presentation were held later in the day. The festival will conclude on Thursday with a chariot procession.
At the historic Shri Saptakoteshwar Temple in Narve, hundreds of devotees performed abhishek and sought the blessings of Shri Saptakoteshwar.
At the Shri Vathadev Temple, devotees took the opportunity to perform abhishek in the sacred garbhagriha, referred to as muktadwarparvani. This ritual was available from 6 am to 6 pm.
Devotees also paid homage to Shri Vathadev in the temple and the naturally formed (swayambhu) Shiva linga carved on a laterite stone about 600 years ago. The stone, submerged in the Bicholim river, is visible only during the summer season.
Villagers constructed a small wooden bridge to provide access to the swayambhulinga, where devotees offered milk, flowers, and fruits.
Many devotees observed a day-long fast and performed religious rituals such as puja, abhishek, aarti, and offerings at their homes.
A cultural programme was presented by students and local artists at the temple’s sabhamandap.
On Thursday, the temple will conduct a religious ritual called artha-
shudhi, followed by puja, aarti, prayers, and the distribution of tirthprasad, said Devidas L Umarye, secretary of the temple committee.
