Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 8: Since times immemorial, people have been known to indulge in mischiefs which create minor problems for their neighbourers and others on the night of Shivaratri. Over the years, this trend has declined, but in rural areas the people continue to do some silly acts at night, while some from cities too resort to these acts.

The mischievous activities may be in the form of pelting stones at the roofs of others, stealing of fruits, coconuts etc from the compounds of other people, putting together materials left outside by people and putting them on fire, bolting doors from outside, raising an alarm just for fun, taking away things and abandoning them some distance away, etc. Unlike in the case of pelting of stones, people realize the mischief in case of other acts the next morning.

On the morning of Tuesday March 8, residents of Gerukatte in Beltangady and Salathur in Bantwal woke up to find all kinds of mischief - bike placed inside a bus, chair and bike atop tables, crates placed on roads, and in one case, which some did not find in good taste, an effigy of a man hanging.

Many believe that getting scolded by devotees of Lord Shiva on Shivaratri night proves to be auspicious for the mischief mongers. There are others who believe that such acts are meant to make the people stay awake and earn Lord's boons the next Shivaratri night. It might also help the youth themselves to remain awake, as they move about to execute their plans at bothering or scaring people to some extent with their silly acts.

It appears that like people who believe that remaining awake on Shivaratri night and spending the night in praise of the Lord is beneficial, there are others who think that staying awake and trying to awaken others will also have similar affect.