MAHA SHIVARATRI FESTIVAL
Maha Shivaratri festival was celebrated on 24 February of last Month. Maha Shivaratri festival belongs with God Shiva. In this festival thousands of pilgrims, sadhus and ascetics visited the Pashupatinath Temple and worshiped Lord Pashupatinath. Maha Shivaratri is the most sacred festival in Nepal. On this festival day pilgrims who took fast will not have to go hell. They took holy bath in Bagmati River and purify their body.
Once a hunter was in the big forest and saw a beautiful deer grazing on grass and drinking fresh water. The hunter attacked the deer with a bow and an arrow. Then the Deer died on the spot touching the Shiva linga by his body and immediate the dead deer changed into a deity. It was surprising for the hunter with the power of the Shiva linga and he went to Bagmati River to take holey bath.After taking holey bath he threw his bow and bent his head down before the Shiva linga and worshiped it. It was happened on the 14th of day of the dark forth night of Falgun(eleventh month of the Nepali calendar).Since that day all hindu people started to celebrate Shivaratri Festival all over in Nepal at the shiva temple. That day is considered to be pious day and the hunter got salvation from Lord shiva.
