CURRENT AFFAIRS

Detailed explanation-1: -Herath or the ‘Night of Hara (Shiva)’, generally known as Maha Shivratri, is the main festival celebrated by the Kashmiri Pandits across Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). The festival marks the marriage anniversary of Lord Shiva and Goddess Uma (Parvathi). 2022 Herath Festival was celebrated on 28th February 2022.

Detailed explanation-2: -Maha Shivaratri is observed in several states of India like Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, and Bihar. On this auspicious day, followers and devotees of Lord Shiva observe fast and special pujas are performed in several temples across the world.

Detailed explanation-3: -Among Kashmiri pandits the grand festival of Mahadev, Maha Shivratri is celebrated as Herath, a phonetic derivation of Har-ratri the night of Hara. Herath is considered a festival of preserving the intrinsic and positive values of Kashmiri culture.

Detailed explanation-4: -Every year, on the first day of Vaishakh, the people of Jammu-like the rest of northern India-celebrate baisakhi. Baisakhi is also known as the harvest festival and is considered auspicious especially for marriages. Rivers, canals and ponds are thronged by devotees who unfailingly take a ritual dip every year.

Detailed explanation-5: -In Kashmir Shaivism, Maha Shivaratri is celebrated by the Hindus of Kashmir and is called, “Herath” in Kashmiri, a word derived from the Sanskrit word “Hararatri” the “Night of Hara” (another name of Shiva).