City to celebrate Mahashivratri from Feb 20-23

Varanasi: Adding one more festival to the list of events hosted by Kashi tourism department every year, Mahashivratri Mahotsava will be celebrated for four days on a grand scale in the Shiva’s abode. The festival is falling on February 21 this year.
Tourism department, which spends over Rs one crore on Ganga Mahotsava and organises Budhwa Mangal, will spend around Rs 50 lakh on four-day Mahashivratri Mahotsava commencing from February 20. Apart from several cultural and literary events, boat-race and boat fest will remain prime attraction on the concluding day of the fest.
Talking to TOI on Monday, divisional commissioner Deepak Agrawal said, “Mahashivratri Mahotsava will be the third cultural fest, courtesy tourism department. This is being started from this year to make the pilgrims and tourists aware about the cultural heritage of the ancient old city. All the events of this mahotsava will be based on the legends of Lord Shiva.”
The tourism department has allocated a budget of Rs 50 lakh for this mahotsava, which is the second largest expenditure on any cultural fest after Ganga Mahotsava, he said adding, the department allocates budget of Rs one crore for Ganga Mahotsava out of which funds up to Rs 30 lakh are generated from sponsors. Ganga Mahotsava is organised between Prabodhini Ekadashi and Kartik Purnima in November. Another event of Budhwa Mangal is organised by the department after the festival of Holi with the help of sponsors instead of its own exchequer, said Agrawal.
Giving details of the Mahashivratri Mahotsava at a press conference, Agrawal said, “The cultural events of the fest will be organised at Rajghat along river Ganga from February 20 to 22. All events will take place in the evening.” On the inaugural day of the fest, he said, an all India poetry recital will be held after performances of Kathak and music.
Devotional music and Kathak events will be held on February 21 and 22, he said adding that a boat festival will be organised at Rajghat on February 23. Another attraction would be a boat race from Ravidas Ghat to Rajendra Prasad Ghat which will witness participation of 40 manually sailed boats, he said adding that cash prize of Rs 25,000, Rs 15,000 and Rs 10,000 will be given to the first, second and third winners of the race while every participant will be given Rs 2,000 each consolation prize. A total of 25 entries have been received for the race so far, he added.
A parade of hand-painted and decorated boats will be conducted in front of Rajendra Prasad Ghat, he said adding that the boat fest will conclude with cultural programmes on 20 ‘bajras’ (big size boats) having a capacity of accommodating 700 viewers.