Mahashivaratri

All Hindus in Kerala celebrate the festival of Mahashivaratri. The word means `the great night of Siva. According to the Sivapurana, it falls on the Krishna Chathurdasi day which is on the fourteenth day during the warning of the moon in the month of Megha, though in some years it may occur in Phalguna also. In Kerala the month of Kumbham is noted for the Sivarathri festival which falls in February -March. The festival is celebrated to commemorate the day when Lord Shiva consumed the pot of poison to save the world from destruction. Though he revived, the poison gave his skin a bluish tinge. It is to celebrate the victory of Lord Shiva that Hindus religiously celebrate Mahashivaratri. The observance of Sivarathri rites promises both material comfort in this world and bliss in the other. While some Hindus abstain from every kind of food for the whole day, others content themselves with one meal. People go to the Siva temple and keep on reciting the prayers to Lord Siva. Pooja to Siva is kept up all the night. Strict vigil is kept by people who take the Sivarathri vrata or fast throughout the night. There are Siva temples where Kavadiyattom is of great significance during the Sivarathri festival. A brief on Sivarathri festival is not complete without the mention of the celebration in Aluva. Here the Lingom or idol of Siva rises out of the sand on the bank of the river. The sand bank is extensive and the pilgrims running into several thousands congregate here. People belonging to all classes, castes and creeds assemble for this festival.