NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Norcross, GA, February 19, 2026: On Sunday, February 15, 2026, devotees of Shree Sadhana Mandir gathered to observe the sacred occasion of Mahashivratri at the Impact Conference Center at Global Mall in Norcross, Georgia. Families arrived with offerings and prayers, and the program brought together devotees of all ages in a shared spirit of worship and unity.
In the days leading up to the celebration, Mandir volunteers prepared puja items and organized the setup for the event. Teams returned again the night before and throughout the day to decorate the hall, prepare the altar area, and arrange approximately 150 platforms so devotees could sit with family and friends and perform the puja together. The preparation reflected the Mandir’s strong tradition of seva, with many volunteers working quietly behind the scenes to support the congregation.
From 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm, Acharya Ved P. Joshiji, the Mandir priest and Acharya, guided hundreds of devotees through the evening’s rituals, ensuring that everyone could follow the steps properly. The program began with Ganapati Pooja, followed by Shivparivar Pooja and Shiv Pooja, leading into a Complete Rudrabhishek. Devotees performed Abhishek with reverence, offering water and milk with care as mantras were recited throughout the hall.
The recitations included Bilvashtakam, Shiv Ashtottara (108 Names), and Shiv Naam Mahima, and the evening continued with bhajans and the Aarti of Lord Shiva. During Aarti, the congregation participated together in prayer.
The spirit of community was especially visible during the puja. Devotees of all ages stepped forward to assist, and it was uplifting to see youth and children helping replenish puja samagri for families as the rituals continued. These simple acts of seva helped many devotees stay focused on their worship.
Following the puja, devotees were served mahaprasad, a vegetarian meal shared by hundreds of participants, with a separate arrangement also provided for those observing a vrat (fast). Families sat together and shared prasad with gratitude, bringing the evening to a calm and content conclusion.
Throughout the day, hundreds of devotees visited the Mandir for darshan and prayers, reflecting the importance of Mahashivratri in the community. Later that night, the puja was repeated at the Mandir from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm, especially for volunteers who had worked throughout the day and for those unable to attend the main program.
At Shree Sadhana Mandir’s Mahashivratri 2026 celebration, these traditions were carried out with discipline, sincerity, and strong community participation.
As devotees reflected on the meaning of the night, many remembered the humility expressed in a traditional prayer:
“Tava tattwam na janami kidrishosi maheshwara,
yadrashosi mahadeva tadrashaya namo namah.”
With devotion, seva, and collective worship, Mahashivratri 2026 at Shree Sadhana Mandir became a meaningful observance for the community. Har Har Mahadev.
