MAHASHIVRATRI is a Hindu festival celebrated throughout the world wherever Hindus dwell, and is dedicated to Shiva, one of the deities of the Hindu Trinity.

Tradition says that Shiva, like his symbol the new moon, appeared in order to save the world from darkness and ignorance, before the world entered complete darkness. The celebration starts during the night just before the new moon and is of great significance because it was the night when Shiva danced the “Tandav”, his cosmic dance.

The legend surrounding this festival says that Lubdhaka, a poor tribal man and a devotee of Shiva, once went into the deep forests to collect firewood. At nightfall, he became lost and could not find his way home. So he climbed up a tree and sought safety and shelter in its branches until dawn. All night he could hear the growls of tigers and wild animals and was too frightened to leave the tree. In order to keep himself awake, he plucked one leaf at a time from the tree and then dropped it, while chanting the name of Shiva. By sunrise, he had dropped thousands of leaves on to a Shiva lingam, which he had not seen in the darkness. Lubdhaka’s all-night worship pleased Shiva. By the grace of Shiva the tigers and wild animals went, and Lubdhaka not only survived but was rewarded with ‘divine bliss’.

Devotees of Shiva observe a fast during Mahashivratri and stay up all night at a place of worship. Shiva is offered special food made from the fruits of the season, root vegetables and coconuts during ritual worship. Those who observe the fast only break their fast the next morning, and eat Prasad – the food offered to Shiva. Young girls observe the fast and worship Shiva so that he may bless them with good husbands. They sing devotional songs in praise of the Lord and holy texts are chanted throughout the night.

The pandits (priests) in the temples perform the puja (religious worship) according to the scripture during the night. In temples, Shiva linga - the phallic symbol of Lord Shiva - is worshipped. Devotees perform the ritual of bathing the Shiva linga with milk, water and honey and then it is anointed with sandalwood paste and decorated with flowers and garlands.

This year, Hindus in Bradford celebrated Mahashivrati on February 17.

Krishan Kumar Mittal The Methodist Church, Touchstone Centre is based at 32 Merton Road, Bradford.

Touchstone is a centre of listening and learning in the heart of Bradford. It is committed to intercultural and interfaith engagement in Britain’s first majority Muslim city. Listening to and with each other, Touchstone expresses the Methodist Church’s call to discipleship among people of other faiths and has particularly strong partnership links with the people of Pakistan. Touchstone is named after Shakespeare’s fool – a fool sees things differently and talks truth to power.