Chanting...Meditation...Fasting..

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It's Mahashivratri here. It's a big auspicious day of Hindus. It's said to be the night when Lord Shiva married Goddess Parvathi. The night is considered to be a special one. It's said that the planetary position and the position of celestial bodies is special today and they seem to send positive vibrations to earth tonight. And so people try to stay awake tonight to receive those energies. Those who believe try to stay awake throughout the night in an upright position. They indulge themselves in chanting powerful Shiva mantras, meditation and singing bhajans( songs in praise of Lord). So tonight many such groups will be active. Meditation or prayers in mass is supposed to be more effective. Many do observe fast today. Some do it without even a drop of water, some with only water while many eat only fruits and milk. I am a strong devotee of Shiva. Today I am observing fast. I will eat only fruits and nuts. I am done with one hour of chanting mantras and meditation in the morning. We have rudra abhishekam in our apartment from 4 PM to 4 AM. Rudra is another name of Shiva and this is a special ritual to evoke the power of Shiva through continuous chanting. These mantras are proven to be effective on our brain (our cortex) and on all our seven seats or kundalis in body that are supposed to be seat for various emotions. So listening or chanting them brings an emotional balance and makes us reach a meditative balance. I will be a part of that ritual with other residents of my apartment. So I will be awake whole night meditating and chanting. I will go there at 8 in the evening. My daughters and husband are not fasting. My younger one took care of breakfast while I was busy with my chanting. Now I will make some lunch for them. Later my daughters can cook something and manage with the leftovers of lunch for dinner. My elder daughter and husband are spiritual but not religious. They are atheist. But when it comes to my faith in rituals they extend their support. And I don't question their atheist view. I respect it. I guess faith and beliefs are personal matter and can not be questioned.