Uttarakhand today echoed with the chime of temple bells and chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' as devotees thronged Shiva temples across the state to pay obeisance to lord Shiva on the occasion of Mahashivratri.
Long queues of men, women and children were spotted outside Tapkeshwar Mahadev Mandir, Prithvinath Mahadev Mandir and Siddheshwar Mahadev Mandir in Dehradun waiting for their turn to offer holy waters of the Ganga and milk to Lord Shiva, to mark the occasion celebrated across the country as the day when Lord Shiva wedded Goddess Parvati.
It is also believed to be the day Shiva saved the universe by drinking poison that emerged from the churning of the ocean.
Elaborate security arrangements were made around Tapkeshwar Mahadev mandir which receives devotees from all over the district as well as outside including Kanwariyas.
Ancient shrines dedicated to lord Shiva in riverside towns like Haridwar, where the Ardhkumbh mela is underway, and Rishikesh witnessed an unending stream of devotees throughout the day.
Lakhs of devotees descended on the banks of the Ganga in Haridwar to take a holy dip in the river.
A bath in the Ganga on Mahashivratri during Ardhakumbh holds special significance for devotees this year due to the coincidence of Shivayog and Mahamrityunjay Yog.
On an alert following intelligence inputs about LeT and JeM terrorists having entered the country through Gujarat, security was beefed up throughout the mela area in Haridwar especially on the most popular ghats like Har Ki Pauri, Subhash Ghat, Malviya ghat and Mahila ghat where lakhs of devotees gather on important days like this for a holy bath.
