On the occasion of Mahashivratri 2026, devotees began flocking to temples from midnight, eager to witness the rituals and partake in the festivities. At 2:30 AM in Ujjain's Mahakaleshwar Jyotirlinga temple, the Bhasma Aarti initiated a continuous 44 hours of darshan, while at Kashi Vishwanath temple in Varanasi, millions received blessings during the Mangala Aarti, accompanied by floral showers. Devotional fervor manifested in various forms, including Haldi rituals, water offerings, and artistic displays of sand and processions across cities like Kanpur, Dehradun, Puri, and Jammu.

The immense faith showcased was not limited to the major temples; devotees across the nation celebrated through various means. In Gujarat's Junagadh, worshippers engaged in prayer rituals, with the presence of saints adding a spiritual dimension to the festivity. Alongside Ujjain and Kashi, significant gatherings were noted at Shambhu Mahadev temple in Reasi, Jammu & Kashmir, Nageshwar Dham temple in Ayodhya, and Baba Baidyanath Dham in Jharkhand, where thousands partook in water offerings, reinforcing the festival's essence of devotion and community.

In the national capital, the Shri Adya Katyayani Shakti Peeth temple in Chhattarpur saw considerable participation, reflecting the widespread enthusiasm for Mahashivratri. The collective resonance of 'Har Har Mahadev' reverberated through India, embodying the unique blend of faith, tradition, and exuberance that defines this significant religious observance.