The Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, celebrated the Maha Shiva Ratri on 21st February 2020 with whole-night Special Puja starting from 7:40 p.m. on 21st, till 5.20 a.m. on 22nd February 2020.

The devotees attended evening arati followed by puja to Lord Shiva the whole night.

Revered Swami Shantatmanandaji Maharaj, Secretary, Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi, performed the Puja the whole night, ably assisted by Rajshree Chakraborty and also a few volunteers. The Puja was performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which was kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga.

The Puja was performed four times during the four Prahars of the night.

After the fourth prahar, Homa, Purnahuti and Mangalarati started at 4.30 a.m. and was over by 5.20 a.m. on 22nd February 2020.

At the end of the First Prahar puja and arati at 10.30 p.m. on 21st February 2020, devotees were served cut-fruits, bel sarbat, misri sarbat, dahi sarbat (buttermilk), and sagu, moong dal. Also black tea and tea with milk was served to devotees at the end of Second Prahar, Third Prahar , and Fourth Pahar.

After Homa, Purnahuti and Mangalarati which ended at about 5.20 a.m. on 22nd February 2020, Prasad was distributed to devotees

When the puja was going on, in the beginning Swami Dhruvarupanandaji Maharaj rendered a few shlokas on Lord Shiva. Shiva Stotram was also rendered by him. Then Shri Bishnu Murari Chatterjee accompanied by Shri Siddhartha Bhattacharya and Shri Arup Maitra on tabla, followed by Shri Avik Chatterjee accompanied by the same Shri Siddhartha Bhattacharya and Shri Arup Maitra on tabla rendered a few devotional songs. Arati song on Lord Shiva (Dhimiki, dhimiki….) was rendered by Rev. Dhruvarupanandaji Maharaj. Later, in the subsequent Prahars, Shri Bishnu Murari Chatterjee and Shri Avik Chatterjee accompanied by Shri Siddharta Bhattacharya and Shri Arup Maitra on tabla, and Shri Bikas Bose on manjira rendered reverberating bhajans on Lord Shiva before and during the night till early morning on 22nd February 2020. There was spiritual fervour among all devotees assembled in the Temple specially while singing in chorus the hymns and songs in praise of Lord Shiva.

The Naivedya to Lord Shiva, among other things like fruits and sweets, included misri sarbat and bel juice, the favourites of the Lord. Bhoga too was offered to Lord Shiva in every Prahar, each time. After the First Prahar puja was over, monastic members and devotees offered milk and Ganges water to Shiva Linga. Similarly, curd was offered in the Second Prahar, ghee in the Third and honey in the last Prahar.

As mentioned above, after all the pujas were over, homa was done at 4.30 a.m. on 22nd February 2020, after which bhoga was offered and Mangalarati was conducted.

All the devotees present at Mangalarati in the morning were each served cut-fruits and cooked prasad.

Many volunteers participated wholeheartedly in the temple, kitchen and prasad distribution services and along with monastics, they made the Shiva Ratri Puja a memorable event.

Glimpses of the celebration:

Samba Sadashiva – Akshharamala || Mahashivaratri || Swami Dhruvarupananda || 2020

Mahashivaratri || 2020

Mahashivaratri || Pūrṇāhuti (पूर्णाहुति) || 2020

Bhajan by Shri Champak Chatterjee || Mahashivaratri || 2020

Bhajan by Shri Avik Chatterjee || Mahashivaratri || 2020

A few photos from this occasion:

  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.
  • Mahashivaratri Puja, 21st February 2020. The Puja is performed on the Baneswar Shiva Linga, which is kept on a silver plate in a brass vessel in front of the Garbha Mandir covered with a beautiful yellow umbrella over Shiva Linga at Ramakrishna Mission, New Delhi.