HINDUS throughout the Pomeroon-Supenaam Region, on Friday, observed the auspicious day of Shivratri with chanting of sacred hymns and performing pujas.
Temples throughout the coast were flocked as early at 08:00hrs as persons give reverence to the Hindu God, Lord Shiva.

Services were conducted at Golden Fleece Vishwa Jhotir, Affiance Vishnu, Adventure, Spring Garden, Anna Regina, Charity/New Road, Annandale, Perseverance and Johanna Cecilia, among other mandirs.
Persons performed rituals by offering to the Lingam-symbol of Lord Shiva flower and milk with honey and ghee along with Bael Patra leaves.

Officiating at the Golden Fleece Vishwa Jhotir Mandir was Pandit Avinash Sharma, who explained that “Maha Shivratri” literally means “A great night for Lord Shiva”. According to Pandit Sharma, a devotee who performs puja/ritual on the day is cleansed of sins and attains a step closer to liberation.

The day falls on the 14th Day of the dark fortnight in the Hindu month of Phalgun. Hindus consider the festival auspicious.
According to a popular legend, when a hunter could not find anything to kill for his food in a forest, he waited on the branch of a Woodapple (Bailpatra) tree. In order to attract deer, he started throwing the leaves of the tree on the ground, unaware that there was a Shiva Lingam (symbol of Lord Shiva) beneath the tree.

Pleased with the Woodapple (bael patra) leaves and the patience of the hunter, it is believed that Lord Shiva appeared in front of the hunter and blessed him with wisdom. From that day onwards, the hunter stopped eating meat. Another legend has it that after the Earth was faced with imminent destruction, Goddess Parvati pledged with Lord Shiva to save the world.

Pleased with her prayers, Lord Shiva agreed to save the world on the pretext that the people of the Earth would have to worship him with dedication and passion. From that day onwards, the night came to be known as Maha Shivratri and people began worshipping Shiva with great enthusiasm.