In
Jammu and Kashmir,
Shivaratri is celebrated for 15 days and and the 13th day is observed as ‘herath.’ ‘Herath’ is derived from the word ‘har-ratri’, meaning the night of Hara (
Lord Shiva). The festival celebrates the marriage of Lord Shiva with
Goddess Parvati.
It is celebrated in the Hindu month of Phalgun(February-March). It is a belief among the Kashmiri Hindus that every girl in Kashmir is an incarnation of Parvati, thereby becoming the wife of Lord Shiva.
The ‘herath’ festival is celebrated in a grand manner in Jammu and Kashmir. Instead of just being a religious festival, it is more of a socio-religious function.
