ANMN Celebrates 2025 Maha Shivaratri at Geeta Ashram
The Association of Nepalese in Minnesota (ANMN), along with the broader Nepali and Indian Hindu communities, has been celebrating the sacred festival of Maha Shivaratri at the Geeta Ashram in Minnesota for over a decade. This annual event is a cherished tradition that promotes spiritual devotion, cultural unity, and community bonding.
The Significance of Shivaratri
Maha Shivaratri, which means “The Great Night of Shiva,” is one of the most sacred festivals in Hinduism. It commemorates significant events such as Lord Shiva’s cosmic dance (Tandava) and his union with Goddess Parvati. Spiritually, it symbolizes the triumph over darkness and ignorance while celebrating transformation and renewal. Devotees observe fasting, chant mantras, meditate, and stay awake throughout the night to align themselves with the divine energies believed to be heightened during this auspicious time.
How the Celebration unfolds
Shivaratri preparations kick off with the ANMN team recruiting volunteers to help out with food preparation. They also collect donations like spoons, plates, and water. To keep track of everything, they make a detailed spreadsheet.
On the day of the celebration, folks gather at Geeta Mandir around 10:30 AM. From 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM, they sing bhajans (devotional songs) and offer fruits and milk to the statue of Lord Shiva. After performing the Aarati (a ritual of light, singing prayers), attendees get blessed food (prasads) from the volunteers and then enjoy a yummy meal prepared by the community.
This festival is not just about honoring Lord Shiva, it’s also a yearly celebration of Nepali American traditions in Minnesota. It’s a great way for younger Nepali Americans to connect with their roots and build relationships with other Nepali Americans and Indian Hindus community of the Twin Cities.
The ANMN would like to sincerely thank the Twin Cities Nepalese community for their continued support and partnership with Geeta Ashram. We truly appreciate how, year after year, the number of volunteers, food donations, and participants continues to increase. This year, we saw nearly double the participation compared to last year. It’s a meaningful event that unites the Nepali community and helps us uphold our cultural traditions, even while living away from our homeland.
Acknowledgements: I am sincerely thankful to President Gopu Shretha for his valuable input and for proofreading the content of this post.