Mandi: Shivratri Mahotsav Mandi to Witness International Cultural Parade
DC Apoorv Devgan during the press conference
Mandi, 26 February 2025 — Mandi is going to witness a unique another grand event for the first time in the history of International Shivratri Mahotsav, an International Cultural Parade are being organized on 28 February. Cultural diversity comes alive as 20 selected cultural groups from six countries namely Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and multiple regions of Northern India and Himachal Pradesh. Their addition to the year-long festivities is set to add in a much-needed colourful & diverse touch to different cultures and making the Shivratri celebrations ever-so-grand.
The announcement in this regard was made during a press conference in Mandi yesterday by Mandi’s District Commissioner (DC), Apoorv Devgan. He included information about the parade and the many events that will take place during the week-long festival. The parade will commence from DC office both after which the expo will wind through the famous area of Seri Manch, cross the Indira Market complex and will return back to the DC office starting from 6:00 PM on 28 of the month. The full event will take about an hour and a half and will provide spectators with a taste of the rich cultural diversity represented by the groups taking part.
All of the 20 cultural groups will showcase a cultural performance highlighting traditional dances, music, and other cultural traditions. The cultural parade is a special highlight of the grammar festival with exotic groups like Malaysia, Thailand, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, Ukraine and other local participants from Northern India and Himachal Pradesh. For the first time Mandi will organize a cultural international parade this year, which will add a new dimension to Shivratri Mahotsav.
“I am very excited about this event,” D.C. Apoorv Devgan. “Our challenge as an organization has been to make this cultural parade grand and inclusive for people to experience the richness of different cultures, cuisines and heritage from around the world. “This is not just a celebration of Lord Shiva but also a celebration of global unity and diversity.”
Grand Beas Aarti Also Special Events On Shivratri
Besides the cultural parade, DC Devgan also underscored the importance of the other events organized for Shivratri Mahotsav. Date Updated : March 11, 2024 06:53 PM Get ready for a lavish Beas Aarti near the Panchavaktra Temple at 6:30 PM on the night of Shivratri, Jan 2024. In Kashi, pandits from Kashi, originally hailing from Himachal Pradesh, have been invited to perform the sacred Ganga Aarti for this special aarti event. It will be a very spiritual experience as devotees from every corner of the country will come to pay their respect to Lord Shiva.
Later, to mark the occasion, the public will be able to bring their own diyas (oil lamps) to the Beas Aarti, followed by Deep Daan (lamp lighting ceremony). A special Prasadam distribution program will also take place here, so that all those present and attendees of the event can partake in the festival blessings.
Voice of Shivratri and Many Other Cultural Activities
Also new to this year’s celebrations is the Voice of Shivratri contest, a singing competition that will be part of the festivities. After auditions, the participants for this contest were selected and are showcasing their talents during the festival The objective of the competition is to showcase the musical prowess of the region along with preserving the spirit of Shivratri with devotional numbers, invocations and hymns for Lord Shiva.
Shivratri Mahotsav is held every year in Mandi and thousands of devotees and visitors come to Mandi during the festival, which will be from 27th February to 5th March. In addition to its religious import, the festival is marked by cultural programs like processions, aarti rituals, folk dances and performances of regional music. This year, the introduction of the international cultural parade and the Voice of Shivratri contest will surely take the event to new heights.
Cultural Event, One You Don’t Want to Miss
Apoorv Devgan has also underlined that the festival is not just about religious devotion but creates a sense of togetherness through cultural exchange. International cultural groups bringing in their own music and traditions reminds us of common values of peace, harmony, and respect for different cultures. These groups’s participation to show the work of Mandi as well as represent it would give another narrating of destinations qui Mandi on his celebrates the ‘Shivratri ‘ would also bring evidence of the tides of the welcomes of the people in Mandi towards cultural diversity.
“The spirit of Shivratri is devotion, but this year we want to take this devotion a step further by celebrating it in cultural forms across the globe. This is a festival to gather, rejoice and share the joy of being a part of a diverse world,” Devgan said.
An Expanding Festival That Has Global Appeal
The Shivratri Mahotsav in Mandi has been gaining immense popularity since years and people from across India and overseas visit it with great fervour. The combination of international cultural groups’ participation in this year’s celebrations represents an exciting milestone, highlighting the region’s expanding attraction as a destination for cultural and spiritual tourism. From the bottom of our hearts, we hope the festival can unite each of us from all parts of the world to come together every year to celebrate our differences, traditions, as one big family.
The excitement in Mandi increases with the festival. ADC Mandi Rohit Rathore, ADM Mandi Dr. Madan Kumar, SDM Sadar Omkant Thakur, ASP Mandi Sagar Chandra and other local authorities are leaving no stone unturned to make the arrangements for the successful conduct of the events. The international cultural parade, grand Beas Aarti, and Voice of Shivratri contest are sure to leave an indelible mark on this year’s Shivratri Mahotsav for both residents and tourists.
This year the International Shivratri Mahotsav in Mandi promises to be a unique blend of spiritual reverence and cultural exchange. The cross cultural march along with converted rites and contemporary ones like Voice of Shivratri represent the increased allure and prominence of this festival. As the town gets ready to play host to cultural groups across the globe, the event would leave its chin up in Himachal Pradesh as a throbbing cultural and spiritual center.
Now more than ever, the Shivratri Mahotsav stands as a beacon of unified diversity, there is no you and I, we are all one in reverence and celebration of Lord Shiva’s day, that is what the Shivratri Mahotsav invites every soul to be a part of, a part of the celebration of unity.
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