Bhubaneswar, Feb 26: Maha Shivaratri, the festival dedicated to Lord Shiva, is being celebrated today everywhere with great devotion.

On this auspicious day, devotees visit temples, offer prayers to Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, and observe a fast. They offer milk, bilva (bel) leaves, and various white flowers, as it is dear to Lord Shiva. Other than that Champa (white frangipani), Arakha (crown flower), Kaniyari (yellow oleander), Dhatura, Nageswar flower are offered to Mahadev.

However, amidst the wide array of floral offerings, one flower named 'ketaki', which is prohibited throughout the year, is offered only on Shivaratri. It is believed that by offering this flower on the Maha Shivaratri day, devotees' wishes would be fulfilled.

The flower was cursed by Lord Shiva and was debarred from use in any ritual, but later was allowed to be offered in worship only on Shivaratri.

As per the Hindu mythology, there was once a dispute between Lord Brahma and Lord Vishnu over their supremacy.

To settle the argument, they reached to Lord Shiva and sought his help when it was decided to find the beginning and the end of the Jyotirlinga.

Vishnu searched for its origin while Brahma sought its end. Lord Vishnu took the form of a boar while Lord Brahma transformed into a swan and flew towards the sky. However, during the journey, Lord Brahma noticed ketaki falling from the top of the Jyotirlinga when Brahma sought ketaki's help. He then urged ketaki to be his witness.

Brahma along with Ketaki lied to Lord Shiva. Angered over this, Lord Shiva cursed the Ketaki flower, prohibiting its offering. Later, after much plea, Lord Shiva allowed ketaki to be worshipped only on Shivaratri.

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