Mahashivratri: Thousands offer prayers at temples

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, February 24

The festival of Mahashivratri is significant for the people, who are on their way to spiritual path. The festival was celebrated with traditional gaiety and fervour in the city. Food and fruits were distributed through community kitchens among people in several areas of the city.

Temples, especially Shivalyas, were decorated with buntings and flowers. Devotees thronged worship places right from early morning hours. They offered water, milk and fruits to Lord Shiva.

Oldest Shivalya Virbhan and Bhaiya Da Shivalya saw serpentine queues of devotees’ right from dawn. The most lavish langar stall was hosted by volunteers of Amarnath Sewa Mandal, outside Hall Gate.

The grand celebrations began at midnight on February 23, with langar service, including dishes like poori-longi, chana bhatura, kulfa and phirni being distributed throughout the day. Volunteers also cut a 5,100 pound cake specially prepared for the festival. Congress leader Sunil Datti was also one of the guests at the sewa.

“We host langar every year. Free food service is provided by volunteers. This time we decorated the pandal with a big waterfall made from fruits and vegetables,” said Gaurav Dhawan, a volunteer of the sewa mandal at langar stall.