Mahashivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated annually in honour of Lord Shiva.
Fasting, prayers and vigil mark the celebrations, with devotees making a beeline for major pilgrim centres associated with Shaivism.
Devotees throng Ramakrishna beach to take a holy dip in the sea in Visakhapatnam after staying awake all through the night on Mahasivaratri.
A vendor selling flowers at a market in Thoothukudi. The festival is celebrated with religious fervour and traditional gaiety across the country.
Devotees are seen entering the decorated Jogeshwari caves in Mumbai. Long queues of devotees were also seen in front of various Shiva temples.
A traditional ritual known as Seeveli processions were held at Sreekanteswaram Temple in Kozhikode.
Devotees wait to offer prayers at Kadri Sri Manjunatha temple in Mangaluru. People participate in pujas, including Rudrabhisheka.
Devotees ring bells at the Ketaki Sangameshwara Temple in Sangareddy District as they wait for a darsan of the Shivalinga.
Prayers being offered to the 30 feet Shiva statue installed at Rajarajeshwarinagar, in Bengaluru. Chants of ‘Om Namah Shivaya, Rudra Chamakam’ rent the air.
Prayers being offered at Keesaragutta Temple in Hyderabad. Special prayers and rituals were held at all the temples throughout the day.
Balitharpanam, a ritual of paying obeisance to ancestors being performed at the Periyar in Aluva as a part of the celebrations.
Elephant race in progress at Kallekulangara Chendamangalam Siva Temple in Palakkad.
Decorated chariots on display at Yenamalakuduru Ramalingeswara Swamy temple in Vijayawada.