Thousands celebrate Shivaratri with Sri Sri in Bengaluru

Bengaluru: Thousands of devotees gathered on Maha Shivaratri for a night of meditation, music, and rituals, led by spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the Art of Living International Centre on Kanakapura Road, Sunday evening.The celebrations featured guided meditations, bhajans, and Vedic ceremonies, with the highlight being the Rudra Puja dedicated to Lord Shiva. Similar pujas were organised at around 150 locations in India and abroad.
Addressing devotees, Ravi Shankar said Maha Shivaratri signifies the mind rising beyond the material realm and described Shiva as the essence of consciousness, devotion, and service. Saying that participating in the festival with faith brings fulfilment and joy, he said Mahakaal "shines as the light within the hearts of yogis".Devotees at the ashram also had darshan of relics believed to be from the original Somnath Jyotirlinga, said to have been destroyed during the 1026 CE raid by Mahmud of Ghazni.Visitors from about 50 countries joined in chanting Rudram verses, singing, and meditation, with many describing the atmosphere as festive and spiritually uplifting.