Mahasivarathri falls on Feb. 24 this year. Here is a look at some of the celebrations by local groups…
At Temples
At Sri Malleeswarar Temple, Bazaar Road, Mylapore, a unique religious theme-display is put up every year for Mahasivarathri. This year, their display will be based on the theme “Mylai Sivalayangal”. The temple will be open all through the night and ‘naalu kalam’ pooja will take place from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m with abhishekams and aradhanais. At 2 a.m., Lord Shiva will be decorated with the thazhampoo (screw pine) flower – done only once a year at this temple. Upanyasams, music concerts, bharatanatyam recitals and other programmes will continue throughout the night. Annadanam will also be held all through the night. Pradosham festivities will be held at 4 p.m on Feb. 24.
At Sri Kapali Temple, Mylapore, a naalu kalam pooja with abhishekam and deepa aradhanai will be held all throughout the night. The deity will adorn four different kinds of vastrams – in yellow, red, green and white. Seen here is a file picture of maha shivarathri alangaram at the temple.
Sri Karaneeswarar Temple, Mylapore will be open all through the night on Feb.24 till 6 a.m. on Feb.25. As a part of the pradosham festivities which will be held in the evening on Feb. 24, the diety will be taken on a purappadu, on rishaba vahanam, inside the temple. Special abhisekhams, upanyasams, thevaram and veda parayanam have been planned.
At Sri Velleeswarar Temple, Mylapore, the naalu kalam pooja with abhishekam and deepa aradhanai will start at 10 p.m. The temple will be open all throughout the night. On Feb. 24 evening, pradosham festivities will include an ul purappadu on the rishaba vahanam.
At Virupaksheeswarar Temple, Bazaar Road, Mylapore a 10 ft high and 15 ft wide mountain with an image of Lord Shiva sitting on it and milk flowing down from his head (abhishekam) will be set up inside the temple. 108 Shiva lingams will surround the mountain. The deities (utsava murthis), in a special alangaram, will be placed right next to the mountain. The temple will be open all throughout the night.
Sri Ramakrishna Math, Mylapore will be celebrating maha shivarathri on Feb. 24 with a special Shiva puja and bhajan. The festivities will last till Feb. 25, 5.15 a.m. At R. K. Mutt Road, Mylapore. Ph: 24621110.
Music and Dance festivals
Association of Bharatanatyam artists of India in association with Mylapore Fine Arts Club will present ‘Koothanadi Pottri – At the feet of the Dancing Lord’ on Feb. 25 at the club’s premises at Musiri Subramaniam Road, Mylapore. Swamimalai K. Suresh and Durgadevi, Vidya Anand, Pondicherry Abhai Shaaka, Sri Binesh Mahadevan and students, Roja Kannan and several others will perform. At 5 p.m.
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, is conducting a mahashivarathri mahotsav on Feb. 24. A thematic bharatanatyam presentation ‘Egan Anegan’ by Archana Mahes and group will be held followed by a vocal concert by Dr. Shobana Vignesh and party. At East Mada Street, Mylapore. At 6 p.m.
Ramana Sunritya Aalaya (RASA), headed by Dr. Ambika Kameshwar is conducting its 23rd Nritya Sthuthi dance festival at Sri Kapaleeswarar temple, Mylapore from Feb. 24, 6.30 p.m. to Feb. 25, 12.30 a.m. with presentations of dance and dance dramas by various artistes from all over india.
The Mylapore unit of Thamizhnadu Brahmin Association (Regd.) is organising a cultural programme at Sri Velleeswarar Temple, Mylapore from Feb. 24, 6.30 p.m. to Feb. 25, 6.30 a.m. Highlights include vocal and bharatanatyam performances, villupattu, upanyasams, bhajans, katha kalakshepam and more. For details contact 9600128212, 9789957941.
Layapriyan Papanasam R. Kumar is organising a maha shivarathri musical night from Feb. 24, 4 p.m. to Feb. 25, 5 a.m. at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore. Artistes Krithika Bharadwaj, Sruthi Kumar, S. Aishwarya, Ashwath Narayanan, Akkarai Sisters, Gayathri Sankaran and several others will be performing at this event. At East Mada Street, Mylapore. Ph: 9444493639.
