VELLORE:Shiva temples in Vellore district made elaborate arrangements to celebrate Maha Shivarathiri, the most significant day for Saivites.
Prominent among the temples are the Jalakanteswarar temple at the Vellore Fort, the Margabandeeswar temple at Vrinjipuram, Naganadheeswar temple at Ambur and the cluster of six temples in and around Arcot at Veppur, Melvisharam, Karai, Vannivedu, Kudimallur and Pudupadi (believed to have been founded by six sages - Vashishta, Valmiki, Gowthama, Agasthiya, Aththiri and Bharadwaja respectively).
In addition, devotees thronged to the Suryanandeeswar temple at Chennappamalai near Ambur which is worshipped as the 13 th Jyothirlingam and on this day allows devotees to perform milk abishekam by themselves.
People congregated at the temples in the early morning with many devotees observing the ritual of fasting for the whole day.
Several unmarried women also observed fasting and visited temples to be blessed with marital bliss from Goddess Parvati, the consort of Lord Shiva as Mahashivarathiri is also considered the wedding day of the divine couple.
Festive fervour reached a pitch after devotees in thousands thronged the temples in and around the fort city.