International Shiv Ratri festival 2013
Here we are talking about the one of the famous festival of the Mandi district which is known as International Shiv Ratri festival. This festival came in the month of the Feb and March after the Shiv Ratri and continues for the seven days.
International Shiv Ratri festival in Mandi, HP
Mandi district is basically famous for the festivals here every year there are so many festivals was celebrated. But here we are talking about the one of the famous and religious festival of this district which is known as International Shiv Ratri festival. This festival is celebrated across the whole country but it Mandi's Shiv Ratri is famous all over the world. This festival is held in the month of Feb and March. This festival was started on the Shiv Ratri and continues for the seven days in which so many cultural programs are performed by the local artist. Here in this article we are talking about the details information of this festival. Basically this article is divided into different parts which include the history of the temple, main attraction of the temple and how to reach this place. For more information regarding this place you have to read the article which is given below.
International Shiv Ratri Festival of Mandi
Here we are talking about the one of the famous festival of the Mandi district which is known as International Shiv Ratri festival. This festival came in the month of Phalgun which is in Feb or March. This festival begins on the Shiv ratri and continues for the seven days in which so many cultutal programs and other events take place. Mandi district is situated on the bank of the Beas River. This is the only district which has so many temples in the district, there are about 81 temples in the district and during this festival all these Gods are came together to this place.
History of the Shiv Ratri festival
In 16th century Raja Ajbar Sen was the one of the greatest king of the Mandi district; he ruled for a long time and built so many temples in the district. But he built one of the famous temples in the Mandi Town which is known as Bhoot Nath temple which is known as temple of Lord Shiva's. During his kingdom the people of this area only worship the Lords Shiva's. But in the 17th century when Raja Sural sen become the king of the Mandi district, than he changed some of the rules of the previous kingdom. During her time period he also built large number of the temples but he built all the temple of the Lord Vishnu and during his time period people of this area worship the Lord Vishnu.
But the main history of this festival is related to the Ishwari Sen, who has been prisoner for the 12 years when he lost during the war with the king of the Punjab. After 12 years he was released by the Gurkha who invaded the Kangra district and after reaching his home town Mandi he invited the Gurkha for the dinner and after that this festival begins. After that this festival celebrated every year in the month of the Feb and March.
Main Attraction of the Festival
The main attraction of the festival is that when all the 81 God of the Mandi district is came together and firstly they are taken to the Madhav Rai temple which is temple of the Lord Vishnu and after that they are taken to the Bhoot Nath temple which is temple of the lord Shiva's. And finally they are taken back to the home from where they are come. In the night there are cultural program were also performs by the local artist. On the last day of this festival music and dance programs were also takes place in the Paddal ground of the Mandi district.
How to reach this place
This festival is celebrated in the Mandi district so you can easily reach this place by bus as well as taxi. This festival came in the month of the Feb and March after the Shiv Ratri so this this best time to visit this place. During that time this place is cold so always wear warm clothes. Distance of the Mandi district from the various places are given below:
From Shimla it is about 200km, from the Chandigarh it is about 325km, from the national capital Delhi it is about 550km and from the Pathankot it is about 300km.
You can also reach this place by train and the nearest railway station is in Joginder Nagar from where this place is about 50km. You can also reach this place by aeroplane and the nearest airport is in Bhuntar from where this place is about 40km.
