Bhubaneswar, Jul 23: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan greeted citizens on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Maas Shivratri, a sacred festival dedicated to Lord Shiva.

Taking to social media, Pradhan, in his heartfelt message, described Shivratri as a time for worship, meditation, and spiritual awakening, emphasizing its role in guiding devotees toward faith, restraint, and inner strength. He offered prayers to Lord Bholenath, seeking blessings of good health and prosperity for all. His tweet concluded with the traditional chant, “Har Har Mahadev!”.

Although the entire month of Sawan is dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva, Sawan Shivratri holds a unique place in the hearts of devotees, as it is believed that prayers and rituals performed on this day bring spiritual upliftment and fulfil wishes.

The festival was celebrated with great pomp and religious fervour throughout the country. Major Shiva temples across India organised special pujas and darshan for devotees. At these temples, Lord Shiva was ceremoniously anointed with sacred Ganga water.

Security was tightened across the state to ensure smooth conduct of the festival. Long queues of devotees were seen outside temples from the early hours.

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