Kamla Bissessar celebrates Maha Shivratri; shares picture

Trinidad and Tobago: On the occasion of Maha Shivratri, Opposition party leader (United National Congress), Kamla Persad Bissessar, celebrated the festival with the other party members and did pooja. This year the festival falls on March 1, Tuesday.  Kamla Bissessar shared the pictures celebrating the festival via her Facebook handle. She wrote, "Visiting our mandirs for Maha Shivaratri with UNC Deputy Political Leader, Senator Jearlean John."  Significance of Maha Shivratri: It is a festival of Hindus, which is celebrated annually in honour of the god Shiva. According to the calendar of Hindus, there is a Shivaratri – "night of Shiva" – on the day before the new moon. Prior to the arrival of the summer season in India, that is in the month of (February/March), the night is called "Maha Shivaratri" – "the Great Night of Shiva". People believe that the festival is a firm solemn and observes a remembrance of "overcoming darkness and ignorance" in life as well as in the world. It is also believed as the "Night of marriage" between Shiva and Parvati. On the eve, people keep fasts, do Jagran (all-night vigil), do pooja and chant prayers while remembering Lord Shiva. The majority of the population visits Lord Shiva's temple or go on pilgrimage to Jyotirlingams. The population of Trinidad and Tobago wished the Opposition leader while commenting on her post. One of the users commented, "Lord Shiva bless these two beautiful people give them health and strength to deal with the incompetent that going on in this country bless". While the other individual commented on the post of UNC leader, noting, "When prominent persons…be it a politician or businessman etc. attends functions like this…we can try and leave the race, religion and politics out of it, this picture clearly shows two intelligent women coming together for a worthy cause under the umbrella of religion. Look at the worldwide crisis we face…we need all the prayers we can get…from all religious bodies…this only proves that United we stand; divided we fall".