Devotees bathe at sunrise in the Ganga or in any other river. After that they offer prayers to the Sun god, Lord Vishnu and Lord Shiva.

From the morning Shiva temples are filled with devotees, mostly women, who come to worship the Shivaling.

According to the Shiva Purana, Mahashivratri worship must incorporate six items -- the ceremonial offer of cooling bael leaves to the hot-tempered God, representing purification of the soul; the vermilion paste applied on the ling after bathing it, representing virtue; food offering which is conducive to longevity and gratification of desires; incense, yielding wealth; the lighting of the lamp, which is conducive to the attainment of knowledge; and betel leaves marking satisfaction with worldly pleasures.

Also see: Queen of Dandiya Nights

Photo: Deshakalyan Chowdhury/AFP/Getty Images

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