Maha Shivaratri: How the country celebrates 'the Great Night of Shiva'

As the festival approached, Shiva temples in South of India were all prepared for the celebrations.
Harakere Rameshwara Temple in Shivamogga gets ready to celebrate Maha Shivaratri. (Shimoga Nandan | EPS)
Harakere Rameshwara Temple in Shivamogga gets ready to celebrate Maha Shivaratri. (Shimoga Nandan | EPS)
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A yogi offering his prayers on Maha Shivaratri in Hyderabad. (Vinay Madapu | EPS)
A yogi offering his prayers on Maha Shivaratri in Hyderabad. (Vinay Madapu | EPS)
A priest cleans 'kuthuvilakku' before the Shivaratri celebrations in Aluva Manappuram. (Albin Mathew| EPS)
A priest cleans 'kuthuvilakku' before the Shivaratri celebrations in Aluva Manappuram. (Albin Mathew| EPS)
A yogi offers flowes to a Shiva Linga on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri in Hyderabad. (Vinay Madapu | EPS)
A yogi offers flowes to a Shiva Linga on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri in Hyderabad. (Vinay Madapu | EPS)
Devotees perform Maha Shivaratri pooja at 108 Shivalinga Gurukula temple in Mysuru. (Udayashankar S | EPS)
Devotees perform Maha Shivaratri pooja at 108 Shivalinga Gurukula temple in Mysuru. (Udayashankar S | EPS)
A yogi in Rameswaram performs pooja near the Agni Theertham shore on Shivaratri. (Ponmalar | EPS)
A yogi in Rameswaram performs pooja near the Agni Theertham shore on Shivaratri. (Ponmalar | EPS)
Women sing Shiva keertans during Shivratri celebrations in Visakhapatnam. (RVK Rao | EPS)
Women sing Shiva keertans during Shivratri celebrations in Visakhapatnam. (RVK Rao | EPS)
A kid kisses the foot of Lord Shiva statue on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. (Shimoga Nandan | EPS)
A kid kisses the foot of Lord Shiva statue on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri. (Shimoga Nandan | EPS)
Devotee dressed as Lord Shiva during Shivaratri celebrations in Visakhapatnam. (RVK Rao | EPS)
Devotee dressed as Lord Shiva during Shivaratri celebrations in Visakhapatnam. (RVK Rao | EPS)
Devotees at Someshwara Temple in Bengaluru, which is said to be the oldest temple in the city, wait in a long queue to get a glimpse of the Lord Shiva on the occasion of Mahashivratri. (Pushkar V | EPS)
Devotees at Someshwara Temple in Bengaluru, which is said to be the oldest temple in the city, wait in a long queue to get a glimpse of the Lord Shiva on the occasion of Mahashivratri. (Pushkar V | EPS)
A puja plate, filled with flowers, outside Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar on the occasion of Mahashivaratri. (Biswanath Swain | EPS)
A puja plate, filled with flowers, outside Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar on the occasion of Mahashivaratri. (Biswanath Swain | EPS)
Devotees of Lord Shiva form a serpentine queue outside Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar to offer prayers on the occasion of Mahashivaratri on Friday. (Biswanath Swain | EPS)
Devotees of Lord Shiva form a serpentine queue outside Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar to offer prayers on the occasion of Mahashivaratri on Friday. (Biswanath Swain | EPS)
Special poojas are being performed for deity Kali ahead of Shivratiri at Kaliamman Temple at Madurai. (K K Sundar | EPS)
Special poojas are being performed for deity Kali ahead of Shivratiri at Kaliamman Temple at Madurai. (K K Sundar | EPS)
Devotees of Lord Shiva form a serpentine queue outside the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar to offer prayers on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri on Friday. (Biswanath Swain | EPS)
Devotees of Lord Shiva form a serpentine queue outside the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar to offer prayers on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri on Friday. (Biswanath Swain | EPS)
A priest in silhouette stands atop a stone lion at the Brahmeswara Temple on the occasion of Mahashivaratri, in Bhubaneswar on Friday. (Biswanath Swain | EPS)
A priest in silhouette stands atop a stone lion at the Brahmeswara Temple on the occasion of Mahashivaratri, in Bhubaneswar on Friday. (Biswanath Swain | EPS)
A little boy blows the conch as the Srikalahasti temple is seen in the background, on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri ( Express Photo Service)
A little boy blows the conch as the Srikalahasti temple is seen in the background, on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri ( Express Photo Service)
Maha Shivaratri celebrations in all hues at a parade of performers dressed as Goddess Kali (Express Photo Service)
Maha Shivaratri celebrations in all hues at a parade of performers dressed as Goddess Kali (Express Photo Service)
A devotee determined to pour milk over a Shiva Linga made of many smaller Shiva Lingas, stands on the railing around the deity on the sea shore in Vishakhapatnam on Maha Shivaratri on Friday. (RVK Rao | EPS)
A devotee determined to pour milk over a Shiva Linga made of many smaller Shiva Lingas, stands on the railing around the deity on the sea shore in Vishakhapatnam on Maha Shivaratri on Friday. (RVK Rao | EPS)

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