One of the most important religious festivals celebrated at the Brihadeeswarar Temple in Thanjavur is the Maha Shivaratri festival. Maha Shivaratri, which means “the Great Night of Shiva,” is a Hindu festival that is celebrated annually in honor of Lord Shiva, the principal deity of the temple.
During the festival, thousands of devotees from all over the country gather at the temple to offer their prayers and seek blessings from Lord Shiva. The festival usually falls in the month of February or March and is observed on the 14th night of the new moon.
The celebrations at the Brihadeeswarar Temple on Maha Shivaratri include various rituals and offerings to Lord Shiva, such as the pouring of milk and water on the lingam (symbol of Lord Shiva), the chanting of mantras and hymns, and the lighting of lamps and candles. The temple is also decorated with colorful lights and flowers, and a grand procession of the deities is taken out around the temple complex.
Maha Shivaratri is considered one of the most auspicious and powerful festivals in Hinduism, and the Brihadeeswarar Temple is among the most important places of worship for devotees celebrating the festival.
