Shivratri in Nepal

Shivratri, or Maha Shivratri, is considered one of the holiest Hindu festivals in Nepal. Along with India, the Himalayan nation celebrates the festival in a grand manner. Pilgrims and devotees of Lord Shiva from around the world make their way to Nepal during Maha Shivratri, which is typically celebrated in February or March.

The Celebrations

Nepal has a large number of Hindu residents and as a result, Maha Shivratri is one of the major festivals of the country. Even though it is not the largest and most widely celebrated festival in the country, it attracts huge crowds.

The centre of attraction and attention during Maha Shivratri in Nepal is undoubtedly Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath Temple. The temple is Nepal’s oldest Hindu temple, and it is located by the Bagmati River in the larger Pashupatinath area of Nepal’s capital city. While Pashupatinath boasts of much smaller temples, it is the main Pashupathinath Temple that comes to life during Shivratri.

Even though recent years have seen a lot of crowd problems at the Pashupathinath Temple during Shivratri, it still remains a one-of-a-kind religious experience in Nepal. The festival has also seen much commercialization due to the ever-increasing popularity, and one has to spend more and more money each year to participate. Shivratri is also a great way to come in close contact with sadhus, ascetic Hindus who have dedicated their lives to Lord Shiva. They are famous for their renunciation of worldly pleasures in order to be one with their God; Lord Shiva!