festivals of india!!

India as everybody knows is such a splendid blend and mixture of cultures!! sometimes i feel that one calender year falls short for all the festivals and occasions that we have...... its shivratri today- 12th feb 2010..... and there are so many stories attached to this particular day....

This festival is celebrated every year on the 13th night/14th day in the Krishna Paksha (waning moon) of the month of Maagha (as per Shalivahana or Gujarati Vikrama) or Phalguna (as per Vikrama) in the Hindu Calendar (that is, the night before and day of the new moon). The festival is principally celebrated by offerings of Bael (Bilva) leaves to the Lord Shiva, all day fasting and an all night long vigil.