Happy Maha Shivratri 2017: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amitabh Bachchan Tweet Wishes

The Hindu festival of Maha Shivratri is being celebrated across the country today. The festival, celebrated on the new moon of Magh (the eleventh month according to the Hindu calendar), is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Devotees celebrate the day by visiting temples, observing day-long fasts and chanting 'Om Namah Shivaya'. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, actors Amitabh Bachchan and Rishi Kapoor, and many other celebrities took to Twitter to wish everyone a Happy Maha Shivratri.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi posted this tweet about an hour ago:
 

 

- Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) February 24, 2017

His tweet has already received almost 5,000 'likes' and over 1,800 retweets so far.

Here's what Foreign Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu tweeted:
 

Greetings on Maha Shivratri.

- Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) February 24, 2017

My greetings to fellow citizens on the occasion of #MahaShivaratri

- Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) February 24, 2017

Big B also shared his wishes on the festival:
 

T 2443 - Happy MahaShivratri !! and prayers for peace and tranquility ever .. pic.twitter.com/Ol1Xrj9qeU

- Amitabh Bachchan (@SrBachchan) February 23, 2017

Actor Rishi Kapoor not only tweeted his wishes for Maha Shivratri but also changed his display name on Twitter to 'Hari Om!'
 

Maha Shiv ratri ki badhai sab Shiv Bhakton ko. "Bam bam Hari Om"! pic.twitter.com/kXHQEdXEpE

- Hari Om! (@chintskap) February 23, 2017

Jolly LLB 2 actor Akshay Kumar's tweet will put a smile on your face:
 

Saw this circulating on the internet May Shiv G take away all your problems faster than 4G #HappyMahaShivratri pic.twitter.com/6EqXW2n3ll

- Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) February 24, 2017

"May #MahaShivaratri be a night of awakening for all," tweeted former Indian opener and current Twitter king Virender Sehwag.
 

Jai Shri Mahakaal ! Har Har Mahadev !
Jai Bhole Baba ! Shiva Shambho !
!
May #MahaShivaratri be a night of awakening for all. pic.twitter.com/Bt7KDwk9xL

- Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) February 24, 2017

Actor Nagarjuna and filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar also tweeted their wishes.
 

Wishing everybody #MahaShivaratri pic.twitter.com/rNsUBRtqUL

- Nagarjuna Akkineni (@iamnagarjuna) February 24, 2017

On this pious occasion of #Mahashivaratri,
May Lord Shiva shower on you his blessings with happiness,
prosperity & peace.#OmNamahShivaya pic.twitter.com/mUvYUcykYc

- Madhur Bhandarkar (@imbhandarkar) February 24, 2017

Maha Shivratri is most popularly celebrated in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, the place where Lord Shiva is believed to have stayed. The festival is not only celebrated in India but in Nepal as well.

It is believed that worshiping Lord Shiva on this day helps one get rid of all their sins. Another reason the day is celebrated is because it is believed Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati got married on this day.

#MahaShivaratri, #HappyMahaShivratri, Lord Shiva, Mahadev and other hashtags related to the festival are currently trending on Twitter.