Unique tradition of taking married daughters and sisters to Basi on Shivratri

The holy festival of Mahashivratri was celebrated in a very traditional manner in the Keonthal area. This festival is considered the biggest festival of the year, especially in some areas of Upper Shimla. In comparison to the Shivratri festival celebrated in other areas, it is celebrated differently in the Shimla district. For which people eagerly wait throughout the year.
On the festival of Mahashivratri, people consecrate Shivlinga in Shiva temples. Whereas in the Keonthal or Upper Shimla area, on the festival of Mahashivratri, people have a different tradition of worshiping Lord Shiva, Parvati, and Ganesha in their homes. The house is beautifully decorated for the puja. In many villages, people make pictures of the marriage of Shiva and Parvati on one wall of the house. The pavilion is decorated very well. Nandi bulls, goats, and sheep are made and decorated with roti made of flour on the Mandal. The most attractive thing on the mandap is the Chandua which is prepared from Paja, Bilvapatra, and Bhang Ghatura for the marriage of Shiva and Parvati. Apart from this, special dishes prepared for Shivratri including Kachari, Urad Sanshe, Dal Rice, Siddu, Puda, fruits, etc. are served before the Lord at the Mandap. At night, a special puja would be performed by the family members by lighting a ladle on fire and adding ghee along with paja and bilvapatra in. Jagran is also held in many houses at night. After that, all the family members sit and eat food.
Shiv Ram Sharma of Dharech said that Shivratri is celebrated as the biggest festival in Upper Shimla. On this occasion, the marriage rituals of Shiva and Parvati have been performed since ancient times. Told that on the next day of Shivratri, Chandra is hung outside the house in the early morning darkness before the birds wake up. The tradition of taking special food i.e. Kachari to married sisters and daughters on the next day of the Shivratri festival continues even today in the changing environment, for which sisters and daughters eagerly wait for many days.