Understanding Maha Shiva Ratri

"Hinduism, one of the great religions of the world, teaches man the virtues of piety, unity and harmony. In our country Hindus, true to their religion, have been living for ages in amity and harmony with followers of other religions."

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by Mahinda Rajapaksa

(March 07, Colombo, Sri Lanka Guardian) Today (March 06), Hindus in Sri Lanka and abroad celebrate the Maha Shiva Rathri, one of the most important festivals in the Hindu religious calendar. This festival observed in honour of Lord Shiva, marks the day he is believed to have married Parvati and the night when he performed the dance of primordial creation and preservation. The many rituals associated with this festival include fasting, night long vigil at temples, making of offerings to Shiva, the lighting of lamps and singing hymns in praise of Lord Shiva.
The aim of all this devotion is the dispelling of ignorance and the search for knowledge, to overcome the evil tendencies of lust, anger, greed, infatuation, jealousy and hatred, and seek peace and harmony both in their lives and in society.

Hinduism, one of the great religions of the world, teaches man the virtues of piety, unity and harmony. In our country Hindus, true to their religion, have been living for ages in amity and harmony with followers of other religions.

On this day sacred to them, I wish all Sri Lankan Hindus a happy Maha Shiva Rathri. May their prayers and expectations for a better tomorrow be fulfilled, and may every lamp they light on this day enrich them spiritually and enhance their understanding of the need for better understanding and stronger unity among all our peoples.

- Sri Lanka Guardian