On the Mahashivaratri festival, devotees receive Lord Shiva’s grace by performing Abhisheka with milk, Rasa ( fruit juices),oil Ghee, Honey other dravyas and water ( Jalabhisheka).
According to the shastras , the festival of Mahashivaratri is celebrated on the Chaturdashi Tithi of Magha Krishnapaksha ( this is Phalgun month in areas where Purnima is considered as beginning of month) every year. Sometimes, Mahashivaratri will be celebrated with some very important and rare combinations . For example, in the year 2019, Shivratri was on a Monday and there was a combination of Trayodashi and Chaturdashi. Trayodashi of the Krishnapaksha is normally celebrated as ‘Pradosham’. Trayodashi before Sunset and Chaturdashi in the 8th Ghati of night as required by Mahasivaratri also was there.. Monday, Trayodashi, suitable for fasting and Chaturdashi will be a coincidence which is very auspicious.
“Shivaratri” means “Great night of Lord Shiva,” devotees of Lord Shiva keep vigil all night. It is different from most Hindu festivals, which are celebrated during the day. At night, worship of Lord Shiva is done to commemorate the day when Lord Shiva “saved the world from destruction”. Worship is done by performing Abhishekas with 11 materials while chanting eleven rounds of Sri Rudram and Purusha suktam. Then Maha deeparadhana is done.
Many devout Hindus fast during the day. They also offer flowers, betel leaves, and fruits to Lord Shiva. They take holy bath in the Ganges and other holy rivers, and chant the mantra “Namah Shivaya” all day long. On this night, temples of reverberate with the shouts of “Har Har Mahadev!” and ringing of bells. Devotees apply the sacred ash on their forehead and bodies as a symbol of purity, knowledge and atonement.
In South India, a sweet porridge made of moong dal is prepared to break the fast in the night, as parana (breaking the fast) in Chaturdashi itself is considered auspicious.