IN New York, thousands of Guyanese thronged to the mandirs to observe Shivratri, the worshipping of Lord Shiva, on Wednesday evening and Thursday morning. Shivratri worshipping in NY is similar to that in Guyana and in India where I was fortunate to observe Shivratri on several previous occasions. Unlike in Guyana, in India, it is a national holiday with throngs of people streaming into temples. As in Guyana, fasting characterize Shivratri celebrations in NY where the mandirs were packed in NY on Wednesday night, bringing people closer to God’s realization.
Shivratri is one of the most important festivals of Hinduism glorifying Lord Shiva, who is known as the Destroyer in the Hindu Trinity of Brahma (the Creator), Vishnu (the Protector and Preserver), and Shiva. As in Guyana, it is really a night of celebration in which devotees keep vigil singing praises and offering supplications to Lord Shiva – chanting and singing bhajans. People propitiated Shiva through the medium of a lingham in which devotees offer jaal (specially prepared milk and or water) at midnight accompanied by ritualistic poojas, meditation, singing, and chanting of verses from the scriptures. Shiva is worshipped to ward off dangers and evils assailing mankind. Devotees pray with utmost reverence (bhakti) to the Lord seeing God in everything around them.
On Shivratri, people attempt to reach the pinnacle of divinity through meditation and concentration in their prayers on Shiva chanting ‘OM NAMAH SHIVAAYA’.
The Lord bestows auspicious blessings in abundance on devotees who pray and chant the mantra with sincerity. According to Hindu scriptures, anyone who fasts on Shivratri prostrating to the Lord would gain salvation.
Thus, many Hindus fasted and visited the temple to perform pooja. The day is so auspicious that Shiva sheds grace on anyone who even accidentally and unintentionally utters or listens to his name. Worshippers of Shiva gain longevity of life, success, and prosperity in all fields. And through bhakti, one learn to conquer evil qualities such as laziness, restlessness and lust which hinder human progress.
Bliss, piousness and peace pervaded as one can hear the pandit rattling his verses and worshippers paying obeisance. People performed non-stop aartees on the Shiva Murthi and the lingham.
Incense burned continuously. Fire glowed eternally in the havan kund as devotees made offerings of samagri and other paraphernalia. The long lines of worshippers offered jaal including water from the Holy Ganges on the Shiva Lingam (stone) which literally means an emblem through which the Lord is propitiated.
Devotees conducted oblations (purification rituals and ceremonies). They meditated and offered flowers and prasad (mahamboog, fruits, sugar cane, anar, among others) to the lotus feet of the Lord.
The Lingham is bathed with dhar (mixture of curd, milk, honey, sugar, cloves, tills, and other sweet spices) and smeared with all kinds of paraphernalia (sandal paste, sendur, and chandan). Incenses (agarbati, gugul, cloves, camphor, Kasturi) were burnt as offerings and havan was performed. There were long lines of devotees at the mandirs to make offerings in the havan kund. Bhojan and prasad were served
While worshippers felt fulfilled and blessed during this religious festival, they must not see Shivratri as a once in a year event.  Every moment of peoples’ lives should be spent prostrating to the lotus feet of God, in whatever form he is worshipped.