In pics: Devotees throng temples on occasion of Mahashivratri

Adiyogi Shiva bust decked up with lights in Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore, where Sadhguru's Isha foundation organises Mahashivratri every year. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar was also present at the event. The devotees thronged the venue on the occasion that marks the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. (Photo: ANI)

Devotees at Baba Baidyanath Dham offered prayers on the occasion of the Mahashivratri festival. Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand' Deoghar district is one of the twelve Jyotirlinga in India and is considered to be one of the sacred abodes of Lord Shiva. (PTI photo)

Devotees perform 'abhishek' at Shiv temple on the Mahashivratri festival, at Shiv Mandir in Gurugram. A heavy deployment of police has been made across cities and towns like Varanasi, Barabanki and Baghpat, where Kanwariyas converge in large numbers. (PTI photo)

Priests perform 'Jal Abhishek' of Lord Shiva at the Mahabhairab Temple on the Mahashivratri festival, at Tezpur in Sonitpur district. (PTI photo)

Mahashivratri, is the major festival of Hindus. This day is celebrated to honour Lord Shiva. This festival of Maha Shivratri is celebrated once in year. Mahashivratri is also known as the "Great Night of Lord Shiva". This is an important Hindu festival which is celebrated with great grandeur and enthusiasm. Devotees honour Lord Shiva on Chaturdashi Tithi of Krishna Paksha in Phalguna Month and that month. In this year, Mahashivratri is being celebrated today i.e., on March 8, 2024. (Photo: SS Vijay Babu)

A large number of devotees perform holy dips in the Krishna river and take the darshan of Lord Shiva on the occasion of the auspicious Mahashivratri festival at Seethanagaram ghat in Vijayawada on Friday. (Photos: Vijay Babu)

Devotees offer prayers at Shiva temple on the Mahashivratri festival, in Prayagraj. The day is considered as an important day to perform puja rituals, hawan, reading a holy book, observe fast, performing rudrabhishekam, taking a holy bath in Ganga river and many other things. (PTI photo)

Artists dressed as Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati take part in a procession taken out by the members of Pashupatinath Nepali Community on the Mahashivratri festival in Bhopal. (PTI photo)

A long queue of devotees waiting to offer prayers at a Shiv temple on the occasion of Mahashivratri festival in Amritsar. It is believed that the energy of Lord Shiva is very high during the night of Mahashivratri and performing any type of spiritual activity such as meditation and chanting of mantras, recitation of holy scriptures or hymns during the night time, provides spiritual upliftment. (PTI photo)

Devotees of Pashupatinath Nepali Community participate in a procession on the Mahashivratri festival in Bhopal. Mahashivratri represents the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and wisdom over ignorance. It represents the achievement of spiritual enlightenment, the destruction of the ego, and the awakening of inner consciousness. (PTI photo)