Mahashivratri Celebration

M A H A S H I V R A T R I    C E L E B R A T I O N

18^th February, 2015

                                                                                          

     Celebrating Mahashivratri was a family event before my dad passed away since 1992. Bright and clear memories of Shivratri still rings to all the members of my family near and far. We have been celebrating this since 2013 again. And this year we call a quiet of the three year consecutive celebration. The third year is regarded as the greatest among the fans of Lord Shiv here. There was an open invitation to all my friends and families except for few elders of the town whom we gave them formal invitations.

     Here among the Meeteis of Manipur Mahashivratri is celebrated on the 30^th day of the Month of Phairen. This year it felt on 18^th of February.

     The event started with a ceremonial puja by a Brahman Pandit. Apart from my host family Shiv Seva Shamiti (S.S.S), a group of dedicated devotees of the Lord Shiva in Oinam took the lead in arranging the events. The S.S.S is the one who carry forward the legacy of Shivratri celebration here in Oinam in the recent years.

     After the puja it was my dad’s friend whom we have invited took the stage singing anthems of the Great Lord Shiva. It was a lovely and emotional sight to see them still alive and sing the almost lost Manipuri helms of Lord Shiva. Our hearts melts as we recall the days when we were kids and me and my sister use to sit on our dad’s lapse and join them daily at our home. He used to take us to their houses too and various places sharing our presence to his friends and families. The days we were showered with love and blessings from these aged hearts.

     Following were the musical session by family friends and guest. A complete musical orchestra was hired for the day. Among the singers also includes some professional artist of Manipur. Guest, locals, friends and friends of friends poured in join in the celebration. The young kids along with their parents were there listening, watching and joining the celebration. Special sitting arrangements were made exclusively for the ladies. It is always the neighboring household women who are always an inevitable part of any celebration in our locality. They complete the evening as the kids dosed off on their lapse.

     Though completely exhausted it was the devotees along with the family members that joined, sang and waited for the sunrise. The Mahashivratri ended with a final group anthem by Shiv Seva Samiti. As the first strand of the sun’s ray reached us from the horizon the S.S.S winds up the anthem and so does the 2015's Mahashivratri Celebration. Devotees broke their day long fast from the previous day with the sweets and other edible offerings made to the lord. It was 19^th February, a new day with a new sunshine.

     But nothing exits higher than the people who for the love and gracious blessing of Lord Shiva showed up on that holy day. Thank you all and god bless. As usual I went to drop the musicians to their homes. Like the previous years we all had morning tea together at a road side tea hotel.

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