Celebrating Ecological Regeneration and Family Ties: A Study of Mahashivratri at Jubbal in Shimla Hills

Abstract

The Western Himalaya, particularly Jubbal, is a unique cultural and religious landscape where deep-rooted traditions coexist harmoniously with gradual modernization. Often referred to as God's own land, the region reflects long-standing bonds with Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati, as well as a rich tradition of local deities and indigenous belief systems. Though it remained uninfluenced by broader Hindu philosophy and religious practices, the region still has deep faith in Shivaratri. The present paper highlights how the celebration of Mahashivratri in Jubbal is not just a random celebration of most Hindu festivals, where puja and aarti are the main attractions. The festival here is not a religious one but a personal one, where festivities start as if it were a family function, with cleaning the house, preparing different food items and remembering their married daughter being a must. More than all this, the hidden aspect of worshipping nature’s persistence, fertile fields, and seeking abundance around are among the unique practices of this festival in hard, hilly surroundings. This paper examines how Shivaratri in Jubbal celebrates ecological regeneration and social value in its unique way.