On Friday, March 8, the city of Nagpur was abuzz with the excitement of Mahashivratri, a prominent Hindu festival dedicated to the worship of Lord Shiva. Devotees flocked to various temples across the city, including the unique Shiv Kalyaneshwar Mandir in Mahal, to participate in puja, aarti, and seek the divine blessings of Lord Shiva. The peaceful and spiritual atmosphere was marked by the sounds of sacred chants as devotees celebrated with unwavering faith and devotion, reinforcing the enduring cultural and religious traditions of the city.
Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma, who was suspended in 2022 for making remarks about Prophet Mohammed, was seen taking a holy dip at the Triveni Sangam during the ongoing Maha Kumbh 2025. This comes after the Supreme Court granted her protection from arrest in multiple FIRs. The event continues to draw a large number of devotees gathering at the Triveni Sangam for the Mahashivratri festival on Wednesday.
On the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri, Bhojpuri film superstar Khesari Lal met Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav. The meeting, shared by Yadav on X, has sparked several political speculations. This is not the first time the two have met, with their interaction being seen as warm and cordial.
The Maha Kumbh-2025 in Prayagraj, India, has become the largest human congregation ever recorded, with over 650 million devotees from 73 nations participating in the sacred event. The festival, which takes place once every 144 years, saw nearly 50% of India's population and over 60% of the country's Sanatani devotees taking a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam, the confluence of the holy rivers Ganga, Yamuna, and the invisible Saraswati. The event also provided a massive economic boost, contributing over Rs 3 lakh crore to Uttar Pradesh's economy.
South African cricketer Keshav Maharaj, currently playing in the Champions Trophy, took to Instagram to wish his fans a Happy Mahashivratri. The vice-captain of the South African team has deep Indian roots, with his great-grandfather being an indentured laborer from India. Maharaj has also married a Kathak dancer and is blessed with a daughter, while representing his country at the highest level.
The National Stock Exchange (NSE) and the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) have released their 2025 holiday calendar, with a total of 14 stock exchange holidays scheduled. The first holiday will be on Mahashivratri, followed by a long weekend in March for Holi and Id-Ul-Fitr. In addition, the popular Muhurat Trading will take place in October. Investors are advised to keep checking the official websites for updates on holiday timings.
Rajkumar Hirani, director of the award-winning film PK, shares his experience of meeting Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and filming a crucial scene at his ashram during Mahashivratri. Despite his initial hesitation, Gurudev welcomed the team with open arms, showing his trust and faith in the director's vision. The encounter led Hirani to explore the spiritual aspects of meditation and eventually led him to practice and promote it amongst his team and family. Gurudev's impact on the director's life is now being recognized globally as the UN commemorates World Meditation Day on 21 December.
The news of Sadhguru jaggi Vasudev's emergency brain surgery sent shockwaves across the nation. The spiritual leader has been suffering from severe headaches for weeks but chose to soldier on and even organized a successful event for Mahashivratri. Celebrities and public figures, including Kangana Ranaut, Ram Charan's wife Upasana Konidela, and Director Shekhar Kapur, have all expressed their well-wishes for Sadhguru's speedy recovery.
Grammy-winning singer-composer Shankar Mahadevan has joined forces with Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to release a devotional track titled 'Devadhi Dev', which promises to be a treat for Lord Shiva devotees. The track also features the Mahamrityunjay mantra sung by Amruta Fadnavis, making it a perfect song for the upcoming Mahashivratri festival. The song will be released under the label of Times Music and will be available on all audio and video streaming platforms globally.
Spiritual leader Sadhguru took to social media to appreciate Punjabi singer-actor Diljit Dosanjh's performance at Ambani wedding festivities. The singer was seen bowing down to Sadhguru out of respect after his performance. Sadhguru also invited Diljit to perform at the next Mahashivratri celebration in 2025. In another viral video, Diljit was seen dancing with Kareena Kapoor on stage.