Maha Shiv Ratri: In myschool days i used to enjoy a lot whenever there are some festivals. If one really wants to celebrate the festivals,its in village atmosphere. In villages the festivals are observed with full festivity as all the villagers come together and enjoy. At times various street plays are also organised and various types of games on display near the place where the functions takes place.
In this case Maha Shiv ratri is observed offering prayers to Lord Shiva. So wherever the Lord Shiva Temples are located they decorate the temples and use mikes and loud speakers where they play devotional and other filmi songs whole day. Since we are small school going children we used to spend most of our time at these places playing with friends and other children.
On Shiv Ratri occassion we all take bath early in the morning and some wear new clothes and some old washed and ironed clothes. We go to temples with flowers,fruits and coconut to offer to the God and the priests chant mantras. The coconut water sprinkles on the Shiv Linga and also fresh milk, flowers and Bilwa patra (a sacred leaf). We also lit Dipas (a small earthen lamp where oil is put and a wick is put inside).
On Shivaratri day most people do fasting and they dont sleep whole night so people will spend time watching cultural activities or playing cards. Since we do fasting whole day and vigil at night, the next morning employees take a day off and some schools declare holiday to take rest.
Also we attend cultural programmes like Harikatha, Burrakatha, or a drama and so on. These are all done in the night so that people can stay awake.