MAHA SHIVARATI - YET ANOTHER OCCASION THAT SAW PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN IN SOUTH AFRICA ATTENDING PRAYER SERVICES IN THEIR NUMBERS TO PROMOTE AND PROTECT THEIR CULTURES, TRADITIONS AND LANGUAGES

(Devotees of the Sivan Sabay in Verulam conducting a ceremony as a tribute to Lord Shiva Pix by Anusha Kisten)

(Devotees at the Pretoria Tamil League temple leading the prayer services on Monday night - March 7 2016 /b> - Pictures by PTA) By Subry Govender THIRST, HUNGER AND ENTHUSIASM FOR THE CULTURES OF PEOPLE OF INDIAN-ORIGIN

(Devotees participating in a programme at the Verulam Sivan Sabay Pix by Anusha Kisten) The thirst and enthusiasm of South Africans of Indian-origin to promote and protect their cultures, traditions, and languages was evidenced once again on Monday night (March 7) when they congregated at temples and other holy places to observe the highly-inspirational ceremony of Maha Shivarati. Devotees of Lord Shiva gathered in their numbers at various religious centres and other venues in Verulam, Tongaat, Stanger, Phoenix, Mount Edgecombe, Somerset Park, Chatsworth, Umzinto, Umkomaas, Port Shepstone, Pretoria, Johannesburg, Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth and other areas of the country.

(Some of the devotees at the Verualm Sivan Sabay - Pix by Karunen Ramsamy) At most venues, the prayer services started at 6pm and only ended the next morning (Tuesday, March 8) at 6am. The devotees showered their praises and sang "Om Nama Shivaya, Shivaya Nama Om" prayer songs and other items at the different venues. At the Verulam Sivan Sabay in Brindahavan in Verulam, a large number of devotees turned up and participated in programmes to highlight the importance of Maha Shivarati.

(Women devotees participating in a service in praise of Lord Shiva at the Verulam Sivan Sabay) (Picture by Anusha Kisten) Mr Ted Govender, chairperson of the Verulam Sivan Sabay, said the Maha Shivarati prayer service was a great spiritual occasion for people to "re-unite with God" and "lead morally uplifting lives". "We have to use all holy occasions to re-invigorate our one-ness with God and at the same time to promote all that is good in ourselves and in communities at large." A senior trustee of the Verulam Sivan Sabay, Mr Bob Kisten, who has been involved in promoting Tamil culture, language and traditions for decades, said it was very encouraging to see so many people attending the services even though Maha Shivarati fell on a week night. "It was also encouraging to see so many cultural groups and individuals moving from one temple and venue to another to render prayer services," he said.

(Devotees conducting a rite to pay tribute to Lord Shiva - Picture by Anusha Kisten) "We were also very pleased to receive goodwill messages from many of our younger people who are now settled in Johannesburg and other cities in the country and other parts of the world. We even received one message from one of our young people who is now working in Japan. "This demonstrates the importance and significance of our cultures, traditions and languages." Many spiritual leaders promote Lord Shiva as the "Supreme God".

(Some of the devotees who took part in various programmes at the Verulam Sivan Sabay in praise of Lord Shiva - Picture by Anusha Kisten) He is seen as the saviour of the universe. According to one legend, Lord Shiva was called upon to save the universe after it faced obliteration by a pot of poison that emerged from the ocean. Lord Shiva responded by drinking all the poison. Although HIS neck turned blue he never succumbed to the poison. In view of this power of "good over evil", HE became known as Neelkantha. The ceremony of Maha Shivarati is, therefore, an occasion for devotees to shower their gratitude to Lord Shiva for saving the universe from destruction. It's believed that those who participate in the programmes on the night of Maha Shivarati receive HIS full blessings. - ends (Subry Govender) March 7 2016