1000 Sivalingams worshiped simultaneously in Mauritius

Courtesy:Hindu Press International

www.lexpress.mu (HPI note: Translated from original French.)

MAURITIUS, February 11, 2007: To mark the beginning of the festivities of Maha Sivaratri, 1,000 families simultaneously offered rituals to Lord Siva at the Swamy Srinivasacharya Badarika Ashramam. Several political personalities were present, including the Prime Minister, Navin Ramgoolam, Lady Sarojini Jugnauth (wife of the President) and Minister Arvin Boolell. It was an unprecedented event in Mauritius to have 1,000 Siva Lingams, symbols representing the God Siva, simultaneously worshipped with water collected from 108 rivers in India by the assembled devotees. Swamy Srinivasacharya Badarika Ashramam is a sociocultural organization managing a temple dedicated to God Siva in Forest-Side. Unrecognizable to regular visitors, the Ashramam temple was completely sheltered under a huge canopy to accommodate the total of 6,000 guests. Traffic was held up in the area of Forest-Side as 350 police officers diverted cars along the only route which passes through Curepipe. The devotees followed instructions given in several languages over loudspeakers. Priests had come from India to assist.

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