Shivalayaottam is a unique ritual held to 12 Shiva Temples located in Kannyakumari District in Tamil Nadu on Shivratri day. The unique aspect of the Shivalayaottam is that those participating in the running chant Govinda Govinda – Vishnu Nama. Performing Shivalayaottam is considered highly meritorious. The visit to the twelve temples should be completed on the Shivratri day. The 12 temples are located in Kalkulam and Vilavankodu Taluka in Kannyakumari District. The twelve temples are Tirumala, Tikurichi, Triparappu, Tirunandikara, Ponmana, Pannipakam, Kalkulam, Melamkodu, Tiruvidaykodu, Tiruvithamkodu, Tripannikadu and Tirunattalam. The running to 12 Shiva Temple is associated with Pandavas, Sri Krishna and the Mahabharata. Legend has it that Krishna wanted to invite Vyakrapada Muni as chief priest for the Ashwameda Yaga conducted by Pandavas after the Mahabharata war. However, Vyakrapada Muni was a Shiva devotee and he had anger towards Vishnu. Sri Krishna also wante

Shivratri is the most important festival at the famous Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi . In 2023, it will be observed on February 17, February 18 and February 19. It is believed here that Shiva married Goddess Parvati on the Shivratri day. The belief is that Shiva resides permanently at Kashi and therefore the marriage anniversary is annually held with numerous rituals. Shivratri at Kashi Viswanath Temple is divided into two parts. First is fasting or Upvas dedicated to Shiva. And next is the Darshan of Shiva. The fast here is for whole day and night. It begins at sunrise on Shivratri day and ends next day at sunrise. Shiva darshan includes visit to the temple, offering of water and offering food and donations to poor children and old people. The marriage anniversary rituals are held at night.

Sarangpur Hanuman Mandir in Botad District, Gujarat, is an important temple dedicated to Lord Hanuman. Sarangpur Hanuman Mandir Timings is given below. Please note that there will be change in darshan timings during important rituals and annual festivals. The opening and closing time will be altered when there is graham or eclipse in Gujarat region of India. Sarangpur Hanuman Mandir Timings Morning The shrine opens at 5:30 AM Darshan from 5:30 AM to 6:30 AM Bal Bhog – No Darshan from 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM Darshan from 7:30 AM to 10:30 AM Raj Bhog – No Darshan from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM Darshan from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM No Darshan from 12:00 PM to 3:15 PM Evening Darshan from 3:15 PM to 6:15 PM (or 30 minutes before sunset) There will be not darshan 30 minutes before sunset. Evening Aarti is performed during sunset. Darshan from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM The temple closes at 9:00 PM Special Shangar Aarti will be performed at 7:00 AM only on Tuesday and Saturd

Tanot Mata Temple, on India – Pakistan border – is one among the 51 Shaktipeetahs and it is located around 120 km from Jaisalmer in Rajasthan. The temple is closely associated with the Hinglaj Mata Mandir located in Pakistan, which is also a Shaktipeetah. It is said that the bombs dropped by Pakistan during Indo-Pak on the temple premises did not explode. It is believed that a family in the region did not have any children. The members of the family used to visit Hinglaj Mata Mandir regularly and pray to beget children. Please with the devotion of the family, Mata herself was born in the family. They then came to reside at Tanot in Rajasthan. Tanot Mata is a Miracle Temple It is said that during the Indo-Pak war of 1965, hundreds of bombs were thrown at the temple and in the temple premises by Pakistani soldiers. Miraculously none of the bomb exploded.  The unexploded bombs are kept for display in the temple. It is also believed that during the Indo-Pak war of 1975, Pakist