Mangalore: Shivaratri - A Night of Fun, Frolic and Mischief!


Mangalore: Shivaratri - A Night of Fun, Frolic and Mischief!

Brijesh Garodi
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Feb 22: When one hears the name of Shivaratri, the first things that flashes to mind is the mischief that local youth play on this night. Many people are surprised to find tender coconuts being stolen, bananas vanishing, flower pots on the neighbors' compound, shop name boards changed, vehicles decorated with waste and many other things on the morning after Shivarathri.

Speaking to Daijiworld, Navaneeth Shetty Kadri explained the origin of Shivaratri. This was the day in mythology when Lord Shiva had drunk the poison that came out during the 'Samudra Manthana' (during a fight between the gods and devils). The effect of the poison was that after drinking it, Shiva was awake all night. So, to mark the significance of this day, devotees of Lord Shiva celebrate it as Shivaratri and follow the tradition of ‘Jagarane’ (staying awake) on this night.

Later as time passed, some people stopped following the tradition of Jagarane, while others started playing the kinds of mischief mentioned earlier. The main reason behind this was to make those people follow Jagarane the next year.

But nowadays this ritual is vanishing due to the increase in modernization and other reasons. In villages, till date, this night is still a night filled with fun and frolic.

  

Top Stories

Comment on this article

  • Evans Christopher Sumitra, Udupi/New York, USA

    Sat, Feb 25 2012

    Thanks Daiji for the realistic and beautiful pictures. I do not know much of Shivaratri but with these pictures I can understand how some of the folks enjoyed with their pranks.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dr Kusuma Kumari G, Nellore/Kodyadka

    Fri, Feb 24 2012

    I too had lot of fun in myyounger days with my friends in shivarathri days throwing stones making noises etc in Kodyadka and in Moodabidri Later when i was studying in manipal we used to have fun there also Good old days

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • Max Dsouza, Bejai/USA

    Thu, Feb 23 2012

    Thanks Daiji for bringing the old memories back. We used to have lot of fun in Bejai. We along with our friends used to do many mischief's on Shivrathri night. Once i remeber stealing coconuts from Dsouza uncles compoud and getting chased by him and his dog. Those golden days of mangalore are spolit by the communal forces, we were mixed group of friends - hindus and christins used to enjoy our school and college days. Sit outside the Goli soda shop right opposite to the Bejai Church and have buns and puffs from Rajesh Bakery. I miss those gold days of my life.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse

  • Poonam Vishnu, Garodi/Canada

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Nice pics Daijiworld. Yennane illad yenna megye uppadra korpina photo. awla yenna duppatta naal piece malth tharek kathder.yenchina avaste. Good job Garodi cricketers:) loved it

    DisAgree [1] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • R M Ashok, Swamilapadav, Bajpe

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    thanx Daiji for this remarkable pics. thanx a million, this remeindes me my old days but one thing missing thats of sugercane farm , I had a lot fun over there i use to do lot of mischifes ,
    I m very greatfui to daiji for reminding my old days
    Old is Gold
    R M Ashok
    Swamilapadav
    Bajpe

    DisAgree [4] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Sukesh Poojary, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    I remember we used to throw stones on other people's houses and break their glass windows and tiles. Oh how much fun we had when we were young!

    DisAgree [20] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • Don Amnon, Lower Bendoor, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Please read “ Shiva Rathriyo Shava Yathreyo” wriiten by Late Santhosh Kumar Gulwadi , Ex Editor of “Taranga” under “Editor Column – Antharanga Bahiranga”

    DisAgree [4] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • J. P. VIVIAN, kateel road

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Great pictures daiji!!!!.. remembering my old days ...myself ananda, kitta, donna,eppe and other friends used to do some mischivious things at a farm backside st joseph's high school, bajpe.. really those days were golden ones in our life.... and finally blame was coming to our hindu friends who really used to perform "eka bajane" at night near same farm.... no chance to get those olden days back again in this life ...... J. P. VIVIAN, KATEEL ROAD

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Melwin Pinto, Mangalore, Rome.

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Jaagarane definitely had a wonderful meaning...where people were called to keep vigil with Lord Shiva. But the 'staying awake' became more important than the purpose and in order to remain awake some miscreants started disturbing others. Doing it out of pure mischief is something that can be tolerated especially among friends. But when it crosses the limits and property of someone is destroyed I suppose it is anti social by all standards and must be discouraged. After all we live in civil society which cannot call it fun when someone else is harassed against his/her wishes...

    DisAgree [2] Agree [25] Reply Report Abuse

  • vivian, dubai

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Thank god there were no such incidents happend by throwing stone on Religious places....

    DisAgree [10] Agree [21] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amith, Shirva

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Fun Day , Still remember the fun we had , when we put the ARRACK SHOP board on our principals house ...

    DisAgree [1] Agree [13] Reply Report Abuse

  • Dr S Kamath , Mumbai

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Mahashivaratri is the Day when Lord Shiva First appeared in that form to his devotees and if we meditate with utter devotion on that night he will give his vision .But people who cannot understand and practise this went with the Blind beliefs of just keeping awake itself will get them Gods grace and then they thought keeping others awake also gives them grace etc .These are all false if we continuously remember Lord shiva on that both Day and Night Surely Lord Shiva will grace the eitire year with Bliss and posperity .This is my experience

    DisAgree [2] Agree [10] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abu Mohammed, Riyad

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    THIS IS NOTHING BUT A FREE DAY FOR BJARANGI /rSS TO LOOT AND INCREASE THE THIER SOURCE OF INCOME. IT IS CALLED AS CULTURE!!!

    DisAgree [79] Agree [83] Reply Report Abuse

  • yogi , kateel

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    really its awesome..we also did these things..but we stole things, just for youth fun not for sale!!!

    DisAgree [6] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Kumar, Bangalore

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Hi,
    Very nice pics indeed. I miss my old days. Even we used to do so many pranks . It is believed that Lord Shiva will forgive any mischiefs done on the night of Shivaratri. Good going guys.

    Cheers,

    DisAgree [14] Agree [15] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lavin Noronha, Paladka/Bahrain

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    It was couple of year’s back some boys on shivarathri had stolen 100s of tender coconuts and had scattered them all over. Next day the owner had filed a police complaint. No idea what was the outcome. Surely one should not destroy ones livelihood and trouble others.

    DisAgree [8] Agree [37] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arun, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    For yeddi and gang , har din shivaraatri hai... he he he lol

    DisAgree [8] Agree [45] Reply Report Abuse

  • John Lulu Veiges, Eswarakate, Bajpe

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Wow great pics ,Spcially one who is on the top of coconut tree this remaindes me myvery best and close chadidosthe friend ashok whos is our ring leader and boss , we all learn from him how to make fun and how to do mischief
    John Lulu veiges,
    Eswarakate, Bajpe

    DisAgree [4] Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • Girish, Baikampady

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Brejesh Garodin (Photographer)Patthle Bonda Kandina Kalver Thikkuver.....

    DisAgree Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • Arlene Fernandes, Mumbai/Doha Qatar

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Someone commented on the Carnival Festival saying that this is not an India culture and that it should be stopped. Is he now proud to say that this is Indian culture: To create mischief, harm people, steal and destroy property? And should we say that we are proud to be Indians with this kind of culture? I think this kind of culture should be stopped.

    DisAgree [30] Agree [70] Reply Report Abuse

  • nishithshetty, sujeer/uae

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    though we had mango trees in our own compound it was fun to steal it from our neighbour Mr.Lobo"s compound and being an good neighbour we uased to pluck our own neighbours mango during Shivratri in Puttur. Gone are all those funny golden days.

    Hsappy Shivratri

    DisAgree [4] Agree [8] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lancelot N Tauro, Manglore - Doha Qatar

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Me too remeber in olden days Toddy shop board was fixed in Doctors clinic what a mischief days.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [34] Reply Report Abuse

  • Amurfriend, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Good thought......
    Can u please upload pics of reaction of house owner's???

    DisAgree [1] Agree [37] Reply Report Abuse

  • George DSouza, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    SHIVARATHRI MISCHIEF IS A FUN... BUT STEALING TENDER COCONUT OR OTHER THINGS,DISTROYING THE THINGS OR PUTTING PEOPLE INTO GRAVE DIFFICULTIES IS NOT AT ALL FUN ...

    DisAgree [5] Agree [72] Reply Report Abuse

  • Krishnaraj, Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Nice Fun, Just for a change from the routine lifestyle.. But should not cause harm to anyone.. Carry on....

    DisAgree [4] Agree [44] Reply Report Abuse

  • Philip J Rodrigues, MANGALORE

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Beautiful Photos...... thats the real beauty of life style...Thanks to daijiworld for getting back to our olden memories. When we are fed up of reading crime and curruption everyday, such activities give us a glimpse of happiness. The creator of this idea should be paid with a grand royalty...ha..haa....haaaa

    DisAgree [2] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Anand, Karkala/Dubai

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Very enjoyable moment and a small incident which happened when I was a kid. One of my neighbours thrown some stones to our house and at that time my Dad was sitting 40 mtrs away in front of our house. The person who had thrown stones and ran away to my Dad's hand. He could not notice my Dad sitting there and watching him clearly. That scene was one of the best scenes I never ever will forget.

    DisAgree [5] Agree [16] Reply Report Abuse

  • Vasant Raj, Udupi / Abudhabi.

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Missing all actions. Oh, what a great job we did, those days...

    DisAgree [22] Agree [11] Reply Report Abuse

  • Abhijit, Hat Hill Mangalore

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Today a group of motorcyclists wake us up at 4.45am smashing our entire window glass pane with stones and one just missed my son who was fast asleep. To our surprise we have also discovered that same incident happened in many apartments at our locality. Whether all these are also a part of Shivaratri celebration?

    DisAgree Agree [75] Reply Report Abuse

  • sandeep acharya, abu dhabi

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    I remember my olden days we would such mischief with my friends.really i love to do dis things.

    DisAgree [25] Agree [32] Reply Report Abuse

  • Prakash Shetty Ulepady, Ulepady/ New Delhi

    Wed, Feb 22 2012

    Aissa.. bharee porlathnd... aanda moneg kuntu kattdh janatha gurtha thikkuji.. ijjanda manadaani samaa podi maldhuver.... )

    DisAgree [3] Agree [65] Reply Report Abuse


Leave a Comment

Title: Mangalore: Shivaratri - A Night of Fun, Frolic and Mischief!



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.