On Mahashivaratri, Mann & Kejriwal pray for Punjab & India

Sangrur: To mark Mahashivaratri, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Singh Mann paid obeisance at Sri Rankeshwar Mahadev Temple here and performed Pooja to seek blessings for peace, prosperity and continued progress of Punjab and the nation.Greeting people at the festival, the AAP chief described Mahashivaratri as a civilizational celebration rooted in India's ancient spiritual tradition. Mann reaffirmed Punjab govt's commitment to preserving and promoting the state's rich spiritual and cultural heritage for future generations. He underscored that from commemorating the Shaheedi Diwas of Guru Teg Bahadur to celebrating the Parkash Purb of Guru Ravidass, Punjab continued to honour its glorious legacy with pride and devotion.In a joint statement, Kejriwal and Mann said, "On the auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri, we performed pooja at Siddh Peeth and extend our good wishes to all. This is an important festival known as one of the cornerstones of the great Indian civilization. This temple is traditionally associated with the Mahabharata period, particularly with Arjuna's penance to please Lord Shiva." Elaborating further, they said, "It is believed that after severe tapasya, Lord Shiva appeared before Arjuna and blessed him with divine weapons, the Gandiv Dhanush."Underscoring the cultural continuity of the shrine, Arvind Kejriwal and CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, "This sacred place reflects centuries-old devotional practices that have been passed down from one generation to another."