Trip Overview

“Crowds assemble patiently in this extraordinary Hindu celebration with a carnival-like atmosphere in the Himalayan kingdom for the most socially captivating occasion of the world”.

ABOUT THIS FESTIVAL

Maha Shivratri is one of the fondly celebrated and devoured festivals of Hindus in Nepal and around the world. This day marks the union of Shiva and Shakti, the Goddess of Power. The 2,000 year-old temple Pashupatinath, situated on the banks of the sacred Bagmati River, is one of the most significant Hindu temples of Lord Shiva, the third deity in the Hindu trinity and considered the God of creation, preservation and destruction. Ardent followers consider it extremely auspicious to worship Lord Shiva on Shivratri as it is believed that sincere devotion to Shiva and the performance of prescribed penances on that day help the devotee achieve positive karma and spiritual liberation all the more swiftly.

As Pashupatinath temple is the center of Hindu pilgrims around the world on the day of Maha Shivratri, thousands of devotees from around the country and different parts of India and tourists from all over the world come to the temple premises and experience the tranquil surrounding. There’s a celebratory flavor with musicians playing sitars and table drums, dancers in vibrant colors lyrically surrounding the temple. Sadhus from India and Nepal cover themselves with ashes to look paler and decorate their bodies with bright hues to add extra charm to this festival, making the vicinity even more colorful.