Maha Shivratri: Festivities and fervour mark the night of Shiva's cosmic dance

Catch the Maha Shivratri's grandeur in pictures; Celebrations to continue all through tonight.

A devotee in Madurai offers prayers as daylight bids adieu in a fiery blaze as if to set the stage for Lord Shiva's cosmic dance of creation, preservation and destruction on Maha Shivratri. (K K Sundar | EPS) 

Deepams lit, devotion expressed at a Shiva temple on the banks of the Vaigai river in Madurai on Friday. (K K Sundar | EPS)

A thousand lit lamps add to the divine aura of the Maha Shivratri prayers at Sreekandeswaram Mahadeva temple in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday evening. (BP Deepu | EPS)

The Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur, popularly known as the Big Temple, stands tall, magnificent and resplendent on the night of the Maha Shivratri on Friday (M K Ashok Kumar | EPS)

Lord Shiva's Lasya and Thandava sought to be captured by young artistes performing the classical Bharatanatyam dance as part of Maha Shivratri celebrations at the renowned Brihadeeswarar temple (Big Temple) In Thanjavur. (M K Ashok Kumar | EPS)

A 112-foot tall statue of Lord Shiva as the Adiyogi unveiled by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu on the occasion of Maha Shivratri. (Raja Chidambaram | EPS)

Shiva, the Adiyogi, in cosmic repose, a 112-foot statue newly unveiled on the occasion of Maha Shivratri in Coimbatore by none other than a ardent proponent of yoga himself, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, earlier in the day. (Raja Chidambaram | EPS)

The Adiyogi statue at Isha Yoga Foundation, Coimbatore, seen at night. (Raja Chidambaram | EPS)

Devotees at the Maha Shivratri celebrations in Isha Yoga Foundation. (Raja Chidambaram | EPS)