CHAKWAL, March 9: The historic Katas Raj presented a bewitching look on Saturday evening when it got illuminated on the eve of famous Hindu festival “Maha Shivratri”.

More than one hundred enthusiastic Hindu pilgrims arrived here on Saturday from India while Hindus from Pakistan would arrive today.

According to a website about Hinduism, the Maha Shivratri is the night of the worship of Lord Shiva which occurs on the 14th night of the new moon during the dark half of the month of Phalguna of Hindu calender.

The Hindus offer special prayer to the lord of destruction.

Shivratri (in Sanskrit ‘ratri’ means night) is the night when Lord Shiva performed the Tandava Nritya or the dance of primordial creation, preservation and destruction.

The festival is observed for one day and one night only.

Shivratri is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for an ideal husband like Shiva, who is the spouse of Kali, Parvati and Durga.

“We have made all the best possible arrangements to facilitate the Yatrees and they would not face any problem during the rituals rather they would return with sweet memories,” Abid Hussain Bhatti, the assistant commissioner of Choa Saidan Shah told Dawn.

He added that in previous three years the pilgrims faced problems as the holy pond dried up and they could not get “Ishnan” (bath) but due to the Punjab government’s efforts the pond has been revived now and is filled to the maximum level.

Amarnath Randhawa, the President of Hindu Sudhar Sabha while talking to Dawn from Lahore said his community was grateful to the Punjab government for launching many uplift projects at Katas Raj to revive and preserve its beauty.