Though the weeklong Shivratri festival will officially be inaugurated by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu on Thursday (February 27), the ceremonies of the festival have already begun in Mandi town.
The main deity of the festival, Bada Deo Kamrunag, was given a warm welcome by the chairman of the Shivratri committee, DC Mandi Apoorv Devgan, on its arrival in the town on Tuesday.
DC Mandi also carried out a traditional worship in Bhoot Nath temple on the occasion of Shivratri today.
Briefing media persons about the programmes of the weeklong festival, DC Mandi Apoorv Devgan said , “ The Shivratri festival – named a Chhoti Kashi Shivratri , is being celebrated this year from February 27 to March 5 , the festival will be formally inaugurated by Chief Minister Sukhwinder Singh Sukhu on February 27, he will also participate in the traditional Shobhayatra (Jaeb) in which hundreds of deities carried by their devotees will participate , and inaugurate the festival in the Paddal ground .”
DC said, “Mandi district administration has made elaborate arrangements for the weeklong festival, and as many as 216 deities and a large number of devotees have been invited by the Shivratri committee to participate in the festival this year.”.
“One of the main attractions of the Shivratri festival of this year would be the participation of cultural troupes from five countries and the International Cultural Parade in foreign countries, and troupes from Himachal will display their culture; the festival committee has invited several playback singers and artists to perform during the evening cultural programmes, Voice of Shivratri Singing Competition, besides other events .” DC said.
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