108 feet
height sky-high metal sculpture known as Mangal Mahadev, standing with his
trident in the middle of Ganga Talao or Grand Bassin Lake, is located at the
entrance of Lord Shiva temple in Mauritius (outside of India). The statue is
replica (faithful copy) of the Shiva statue of Sursagar Lake located at
Vadodara city in the Indian state of Gujarat. It is the highest known
statue in Mauritius island and also the third tallest statue of Lord Shiva in
the world.
7th
March, Monday, 2016 is a Hindu festival Maha Shivaratri celebrated annually in
reverence of the God Shiva. It is the day Shiva was married to the
Goddess Parvati. The Maha Shivaratri festival, also popularly known as
'Shivaratri' or 'Great Night of Shiva', marks the convergence of Shiva
and Shakti.
The festival
is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael leaves to Shiva,
all-day fasting and an all-night-vigil (Jagaran). All through the day, devotees
chant "Om Namah Shivaya”, the sacred Mantra of Shiva.
In Mauritius, Hindus go
on pilgrimage to Ganga Talao (or Grand Bassin), a crater-lake, turned into
the main Hindu prayer site of this sole Hindu majority African
country.
During the
Maha Shivaratri most of the devotees leave their homes and start a journey to Ganga
Talao (or Grand Bassin) on foot. It has been a tradition that volunteer people
offer foods and drinks to the pilgrims (the devotees). No one knows the depth of Ganga Talao
Lake.
No comments:
Post a Comment