Mahashivratri, locally known as Herath, was celebrated with religious devotion across the Kashmir Valley on Sunday. Kashmiri Pandits thronged temples to offer prayers, with the largest gathering at the Shankaracharya Temple overlooking Dal Lake. The temple was illuminated with multi-coloured lights, and chants resonated throughout the premises.

Devotees offered flowers and fruits, seeking blessings for prosperity and spiritual well-being. Herath, meaning the “night of Hara” (Lord Shiva), marks the divine wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and falls on the 13th day of the dark fortnight of Phalguna.
A key ritual involves soaking walnuts in clay vessels, symbolising fertility and divine blessings. Tourists from Bihar expressed their joy at participating in the festival, describing the experience as spiritually enriching and memorable.