Source: New Kerala.com

Wire Service: IANS

http://www.newkerala.com/news-daily/news/features.php?%20action=fullnews&id=82079

On March 8, 2005 the Indo-Asian News Service reported, "Chants of 'Om Namah Shivaya' rent the air and young girls prayed to Lord Shiva for the perfect groom at many temples across the city on the occasion of Shivaratri Tuesday. Over 10,000 Hindu devotees congregated at Gauri Shankar Mandir in Chandni Chowk in old Delhi and at least half that number thronged the Birla Temple to pray and seek blessings from Shiva - also known as Nataraj, Shankara and Bholenath - for fulfilment and success in life. Lord Shiva is one of the Hindu Trinity and is known as the destroyer of evil. In general, temples, big and small, sported a festive look as they celebrated the wedding of Lord Shiva with his consort Parvati. Fasting devotees - some of whom don't even take a drop of water - were found immersed in prayers and thoughts of the deity who is believed to have conquered death."