Nashik (Maharashtra) [India]: Due to massive crowds in Prayagraj, many devotees opted to visit Nashik instead, where they took a holy dip in the Godavari River, also known as Nashik Gange, and offered prayers at the revered Shri Trimbakeshwar Jyotirlinga Temple on the occasion of Mahashivratri.
The atmosphere was vibrant, resonating with the sounds of devotional chants and ringing temple bells. Devotees, dressed in traditional attire, carried offerings of milk, flowers, and fruits as they sought blessings.
One devotee waiting in the temple queue shared, “I have been waiting in the line for almost 5 hours… I am very happy to be here…”
Juna Akhada Mahamandaleshwar Savidhanand Saraswati extended his greetings, stating, “My greetings to everyone on Mahashivratri… A lot of devotees have come here for Darshan… I pray for the welfare of the world and harmony among the people…”
Rekha Sandeep Suryavanshi, a woman devotee, explained, “Today we came to take a bath because there are a lot of crowds going to Prayagraj. Therefore, we have come to Nashik Gange, and we will visit Kapaleshwar and then we will go.”
Another devotee echoed similar sentiments, saying, “There is a lot of crowd in Prayagraj, so we could not go. So we came to visit the Nashik Ganges, we did snan properly.”
Woman devotee Rupali added, “Due to the heavy rush in Prayagraj, we decided to come to Nashik Gange. The experience here has been equally fulfilling.”
Mahashivratri, dedicated to Lord Shiva, falls on Wednesday this year, with an estimated one million pilgrims expected to visit the temple.
Celebrated as the “Night of Lord Shiva,” Mahashivratri is observed with immense devotion not only in India but also in Nepal and other Hindu-majority nations. According to the lunar calendar, it typically falls on the 13th night or 14th day of the lunar-solar month. Temples dedicated to Lord Shiva witness an overwhelming influx of devotees on this auspicious occasion.