Celebrations Devotees of Lord Shiva fast during the day and maintain a long vigil during the night. In temples all across the country, baells ring, sacred texts are chanted and traditional offerings of leaves and milk are made to the Shiv lingam, the phallic symbol of the God. They offer prayers to the sun, Vishnu and Shiva. This is a purificatory rite, an important part of all Hindu festivals. Wearing a clean piece of clothing after the holy bath, worshippers carry pots of water to the temple to bathe the Shivalinga.
Devotees circumambulate the linga, three or seven times,and then pour water over it.
Some also pour milk. All through the day, devotees abstain from eating food and break their fast only the next morning, after the nightlong worship. The day is considered especially auspicious for women. Married women pray for the well being of their husbands and sons, while unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, who is considered the ideal husband. Offerings of bael leaves are made to the Lingam.