Mahashivratri Special: Mythological shows help make people aware of such days, say industry frat

From fasting to visiting Lord Shiva Temples, these celebrities share their Mahashivratri plans. They also talk to JYOTHI VENKATESH about how grand festive sequences in mythological shows are great to know more about such days.

Sharad Malhotra

I am a devotee of Lord Shiva and love to go to Shiv Temple. I fast on that day. I get very positive vibes whenever I go to Shiv Temple. In fact, whenever I am shooting out of Mumbai and I come to know that there is a Shiv Temple around, I go and visit it.

Pragati Mehra

I come from a mixed parentage, my mother is a Kashmiri and they as a community are Shiv Bhakts, so Shivratri is a big festival for them.

The whole family fasts and the next day is a massive feast. So, for me, Shivratri was all about the massive sumptuous feast! Festivals and weddings work for TV shows as it's a moment of grandeur!

Rahul Bhatia

I am a true devotee of Lord Shiva. Shiva is called “Mahadev” which means God of Gods. Mahashivratri means the great night of Lord Shiva. It holds a special significance because on this day, there was the union of Lord Shiva and Parvati.

We call them “Shivshakti”. It was their sacred wedding night. This day is also considered auspicious for meditation. I also try to keep fast on every Mahashivratri in which a sacred bath is also given to Shiva Linga with honey, milk, water etc.

It is also believed that worshipping Lord Shiva with devotion and sincerity on Shivaratri liberates the devotee from the cycle of birth and death and attains moksha.

I feel that mythological TV shows help the audience in connecting with their religious selves more. Even I used to follow a mythological show ‘Devon ke Dev Mahadev’ and I found it so mesmerizing.

All the characters portrayed their roles so beautifully. These kinds of mythological shows invoke the religious spirit in today’s youth and they are able to connect more with their religion and spirituality.

Mitu

Mahashivratri is the celebration of the union of the biggest kind, where two worlds had come together to mark the big occasion. It's the coming together of Love of the soulmates!

Yes, I do feel shows/serial/films help connect with the audience plus also enlighten newer generations about our legacy and make people aware. Also helps us stay in touch with our roots in a huge manner

Hemant Chaddha

Happy Mahashivratri to all. Being a devotee of Mahadev, for me Mahashivratri is an occasion to remember the eternal truth of Shivoham, meaning I am Shiva. I am the truth, benevolence, eternity, beauty.

Lord Shiva is the supreme deity of ever-wakeful awareness. Connecting to his energy is essential for our optimal well-being and deepest understanding of life. If we examine our lives, we observe that much of our time is spent asleep or only half aware.

In my opinion, religious education is very important for everyone and mythological TV shows or festival events are a great idea to educate the audience with all the religious aspects.

Aditya Deshmukh

I am a devotee of Lord Shiva. It's not only about Lord Shiva, it's about all the gods. The most significant thing about Mahashivratri is that you have to stay awake till 12 and offer the bilipatra leaves.

There is a beautiful story behind that. There was a man who was very poor, he was sitting on top of a peepal tree and thinking about his life, career and family.

Suddenly he was breaking those leaves and he was actually throwing them down. He didn't realise a Shivling was there right below the tree and the leaves that he was throwing were falling on the Shivling.

During Mahashivratri, the more leaves you offer, Shiv Ji becomes happier. Shiv Ji gave him the vardan on Mahashivratri. It is said that on Mahashivratri, he visits to earth.

Being a huge follower of all gods, I do feel that mythological TV shows help to connect because you are educating people, especially the children. When they watch all these scenes of Lord Ganesha, Lord Shiva they learn a lot.

I feel Lord Shankar is the most stylish and handsome and has his own swag. He is very strict and just. Fasting on Mahashivratri is really nice as well.

Vijayendra Kumeria

I am a devotee to Lord Shiva. About Lord Shiva, it’s said he is the most powerful and yet the most innocent. I hope everyone who is powerful should learn how to be simple and not lose innocence.

I go to Lord Shiva’s temple to offer my prayers every year because I feel good doing that. Mythological shows are a good medium for people to know more about our religion than too in an entertaining format.

Ankit Siwach

I am a strong believer of Shiva Ji. The belief is so strong that I have him tattooed on my arm as well. As kids, we used to visit the Augarnath Temple in Meerut and enjoy a week-long vacation when Kaavar Yatra used to happen, it is a very vibrant and joyous atmosphere.

Shivaratri reminds you of who the supreme is, know his power and stay humble in life. I feel mythological shows are a good way of telling stories to families who have not known them completely or who are completely unaware.

But any mythological or historical show has to be made with great precision and accuracy as it connects with people straight with their belief systems and souls.

Vaishalee Thakkar

My mother visited the Shiva temple in Matunga (Bhuvneshwar Mahadeo) regularly for years before the pandemic.

I feel that the temple is like home literally as I have been visiting that temple since my childhood. Mahashivratri night is the most powerful night to meditate or just chant shiv mantras.

Our temple has abhishek on that day and prayers in the night too. The feel of the temple on that particular day is very different from the regular days for sure.

Well, regarding the shows, the audience connects to these shows and if the show is well made and well performed, there is no looking back. It can also be a good audiovisual treat for young minds to know about a particular God or Goddess.

Prateik Chaudhary

Yes, I am a big devotee of Lord shiva. Every day I try to pour milk and water on Shiva Lingam, especially on Mondays, because according to the Hindu calendar, Monday is a Lord Shiva day.

So, you can understand how important and close Lord Shiva is for me. Mahashivratri is very important for me because being a devotee of Lord Shiva, I make sure to go to some Lord Shiva mandir and pray.

Definitely, mythological TV shows and shows with such festive sequences help the audience connect with their religious selves more because in case someone doesn’t know much about our religious practices or the back story of our gods or their sacrifices or struggles and everything, mythological shows definitely help spread the knowledge.

Aalisha Panwar

Yes, I am a devotee of Lord Shiva. Lord Shiva inspires me a lot. I love to follow him because he is known as the destroyer of evil. He couldn't tolerate injustice and destroyed evil in a fair manner.

Similarly, even we should try to keep zero tolerance for the evil happening around us and take a stand against injustice.

And yes, I strongly believe that mythological shows or tracks help us connect with our religious values and religious selves better.

Chitra Vakil Sharma

I am a big Shiv bhakt. I feel a great connection with Lord Shiva. Spiritualism is very important to me as an individual. I believe in God, who takes care of everything.

This Shivratri is special to me as I would be launching my first project on my YouTube channel and I take it as his blessing.