BCSA celebrated Mahashivratri

Edmonton(ATB): Bhartiya Cultural Society of Alberta celebrated Mahashivratri at their temple with gaiety and fervour last week.

“More than 10,000 devotees paid obeisance after waiting for hours” confirmed Arvind Aery, President.

The attendees were swayed away by the mind blowing performances’ of Anjana Babbar, Jyoti Joshi and students of Usha Gupta Kala Niketan Dance Academy.

The major performance was a Script play of BHARGAVA MARKANDEYA RISHI, one of 8 immortals in ancient Hindu History. the story of how Shiva protected Markandeya from the clutches of death, personified as YAMRAJ. The great sage Mrikandu Rishi worshipped Shiva and sought from him the boon of begetting a son. 

As a result, he was given the choice of either a righteous son, but with a short life or a child of low intelligence but with a long life. Markandeya grew up to be a great devotee of Shiva and on the day of his destined death he continued his worship of Shiva in his aniconic form of Shivalingam. Yama, the God of Death were unable to take away his life because of his great devotion and continual worship of Shiva. Yama then came in person to take away Markandeya’s life and sprung his noose around the young sage’s body. By accident or fate the noose mistakenly landed around the Shivalingam, and out of it, Shiva emerged in all his fury attacking Yama for his act of aggression. After defeating Yama in battle to the point of death, Shiva then revived him, under the condition that the devout youth would live forever. 

the episode directed by Arvind Aery, assisted by Vishal Gautam/Pankaj Gautam Scripted by Pandit Pankaj Dixit and Raj kamal as Shiva, Chaitanya as Markandeya Rishi, Sachin as Markindu Rishi and Varun Katyal as Yama Raj spell bound the audience.

“We are committed to keep our rich culture alive and will always do our best to ensure that our community is served in the most befitting way” expressed Rama Aery, Vice President (Admin).