KARACHI, March 6: The Hindu community in the city, as elsewhere in the world, celebrated their annual festival of Maha Shivratri on Thursday.

Special meetings were held in the city temples with the central celebrations held at the Ratnaeshwar Mahadev temple at Clifton.

A large number of community members visited the temples throughout the day and their numbers swelled as the day progressed.

The festival is celebrated to mark the wedding of Lord Shiva to Mata Parvati. The main function of the festival, Arti, was performed in the evening.

Earlier, religious leaders in their sermons urged people to follow the teachings of Lord Shiva who had stressed on his followers to follow the path of truth and resist evil.

Free food was given to visiting people. A large number of snake charmers also came to the temple to display their snakes, which have special religious significance in connection with Lord Shiva, to amuse the visitors.

Space-management was done better this time as a large approach area to the temple had been cordoned off and only people visiting the temple were allowed to go there.