2015 Mahashivaratri at Arunachaleswarar Temple

The below photographs are of the 2015 Mahashivaratri Festival as observed at Arunachaleswarar Temple.

At around 6 p.m. this evening, the gates to the Temple tank were opened to allow devotees to place and light their deepam clay pots around the perimeter of the tank. The tank gates stayed open till about 9 p.m. But it wasn't just around the Temple Tank that one could observe the small deepam lights, as little ghee deepam pots were twinkling everywhere throughout the Temple compound.

Devotees lighting their own clay lamps around Temple tank

Devotee creating his version of the Amarnath Ice Lingam

Lingam display at the Mahila Maram trees, Third Prakaram

Ardhanarishvara at Arunachala

 

As tradition dictates, in the daytime of Mahashivaratri (this year February 17) both ladies and gentlemen created a number of beautiful kolams (also known as rangolis) on the floors of the Temple Compound which depicted scenes from the history and mythology of Lord Shiva. Instead of kolam powder, all the large kolams were made using rock crystal salt to make the kolams look shiny and also to ensure that they last longer. 

Tonight, in accordance with the Mahashivaratri Programme there will be pujas inside the Siva Sannidhi and various cultural programmes at the Temple auditorium. 

To find out more about the Mahashivaratri Festival celebrated at Arunachala, please visit my website Arunachala Samudra at this link here.