Hindu devotees dressed as demons participate in a procession on the eve of Shivratri festival, in Jammu, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2014
Mahashivratri was today celebrated with religious fervour in Jammu with thousands of devotees visiting various temples to offer special prayers.
Devotees from different parts of Jammu visited historic Kameshwar temple at Akhnoor, Shivaliya temple and scores of shrines to pay obeisance and offering special prayers.
Giving rest to the controversy over dates of Shivratri celebration on February 26 and 27 between Gurus of two sects of Kashmiri Pandits, they also held special prayers to celebrate the festival today.
Elaborate arrangements were made by the temple management committees for the smooth darshan of Shiva lingam by the devotees. Drinking water, free food, medicare facilities for the devotees were also put in place by the management.
Minister for PHE, Irrigation and Flood Control, Sham Lal Sharma also visited the temple and paid obeisance to Lord Shiva and offered prayers for the peace and prosperity of the state.
While interacting with the devotees and head of the Kameshwar temple Mahant Rameshwar Dass, the Minister extended Shivratri greetings to all and said that festivals were harbinger of peace, prosperity and promote communal harmony and people should celebrate them with enthusiasm and traditional fervour.
He asked the people to maintain peace and promote communal harmony which is unique identity of India.
Later, the minister also visited ancient Pandu Gufa temple situated at the right bank of river Chenab and paid his obeisance. This temple is believed to be built by the Pandvas during their Aghyatvas and worshipped for several years.
This is widely visited and revered temple in the region.
The temple is thronged by the devotees throughout the year.
Maha Shivratri is celebrated in Ramban on the new moon day in the month of Maagha according to the Hindu calendar.
The District and Police administration Ramban made adequate security and other arrangements for the convenience of devotees in all Temples of the Ramban Town.
A large number of devotees gathered at the premises of Shiv Mandir Maitra to celebrate Maha Shivratri.
A procession was also taken out with tableaux. Meanwhile, over one lakh devotees visited the historic
Shiv Khori shrine in Shivalik hills of Reasi district during first two days of the fair organised on the occasion of Maha Shivratri festival in Jammu.
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Shantmanu, who is also Chairman Shri Shiv Khori Shrine Board visited the cave shrine and paid obeisance on the occasion.
He said that all efforts were being made for the promotion and beautification of the shrine, which is now emerging as an important pilgrimage destination in Jammu region after Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine.
The fair is being jointly organised by State Tourism Department, Shiv Khori Shrine Board and civil administration Reasi.
Keeping in view the flow of pilgrims, the local administration has made all necessary arrangements for security, drinking water, power supply, medicare facilities with ambulance, sanitation, fire services, yatra slip counter.