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 Just like Ganesh Chaturti celebrates the birthday of Lord Ganesha, and Navaratri celebrates the magnificence of the Devis, Mahashivaratri commemorates the lord of yoga and dhyana, Lord Shiva.
Lord Shiva is known as Maheswar, Kailashpati, Shankar, Bholenath, Neelakanth and many others. Lord Shiva is also renowned for his forgiveness, and magnanimous heart being the generous God to his most sincere devotees. Shivaratri is in honour of the god of dance (the ultimate Bharatanatyam guru - Nataraj). Shiva is also the “destroyer,” as he is called when children learn the Holy Hindu trinity (Brahma, Vishnu and Shiva).
 While some see Shivaratri as the night the Lord danced “the tandav,” still others believe this is the night that Lord Shiva married his wife, the Goddess Shakti or
Parvati.
Shivaratri falls on the 13th or 14th day of the month of Phalgun, or Masi. While Shivaratri is being observed by those all over India, the Indians in America are not keeping still. Mahashivaratri in New Jersey was observed by several Indians in different parts of the town.
In Parsippany, New Jersey, the local temple - Shri Sanatan Mandir – set up a flowing display of the Kailashpati. Beginning with an invocation to Lord Ganesha, prayers started in the name of Shiva and were followed with abhishekham of the Sivalingam. Devotees watched as chandanam, milk, honey, vibuthi, curd (yogurt), and water were poured on to the tune of religious hymns and chants of “Om Nama
Shivaya”!
 Raji Krishnamurthy, a Chennaivasi who visited the temple for the first time, was surprised and pleased to see that “people who have settled in America,” have not “forgotten their religious traditions and beliefs.” She was also thrilled, that many “youngsters” were taking part in the religious activities. Religion is a strong moral compass that when instilled into children, provides them with a life-long guidance system.
Kalyani Ramchandran, who came to the temple on Friday night, added, “If you follow what is to be done on the day of Mahashivaratri, it is said Lord Shiva will be pleased and he will grant you boons and make your wishes come true.”
The rules or etiquette of Mahashivaratri calls for fasting during the day and the night. Some people don’t even drink anything, not even water. Further, most devotees stay up during the night of Shivaratri, which culminates in the midnight abhishekam of the
Sivalingam.
 Babu Iyer said, “If you cannot practise the rigorous rituals associated, then one may still attain spirituality by chanting ‘Om Nama Shivaya,’ and pleasing
Maheswar.”
Over 500 devotees and their families attended the celebration and participated in the bhajans and pujas. In addition to the ceremonies at the Sanatan Mandir, the bigger South Indian temple in Bridgewater, New Jersey, also rang in Mahashivaratri with great pomp and circumstance.
Overall, while you can take the Indian out of India, you cannot remove the religion, or their devotion - an Indian is always an Indian at heart.
Priyanka Narayanan
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