Shadu Putting Make up at Pashupatinath Temple-Image Source
About Maha Shivaratri Festival In Nepal.
Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated before the arrival of spring that marks the “Great Night of Shiva,” a Hindu Lord. It is one of the major and most significant festival in Hinduism in Nepal, a solemn remembrance of overcoming darkness and ignorance from the grace of Lord Shiva,one of the deities of Hindu Trinity.So this is a national Holiday in Nepal.
Shivaratri is celebrated annually,in every luni-solar month of the Hindu calendar, the moonless 13th night or 14th day of the new moon in the Hindu month of Phalgun, which corresponds to the month of February - March in English Calendar. Celebrating the festival of Shivaratri devotees observe day and night fast and perform ritual worship of Shiva Lingam to appease Lord Shiva.
Hindus Devotes At Bagmati river bank (Pashupatinath Mandir) during Maha Shivaratri.Image Source
Many Hindu Purans(Hindu Holy Book) has mentioned about Maha Shivaratri. According to the most popular legend, during the great mythical churning of the ocean – popularly known as Samudra Manthan in Hindu Holy books and stories, and conducted by gods and demons so that nectar could be obtained to make them immortal - a pot of very dangerous poison was emerged which could wipe out the whole world.Then everybody went to Lord Shiva asking for help. Lord Shiva had no other option to destroy the poison so he consumed it by himself but kept it within his throat because the world could have destroyed if he took it to his stomach which represents the universe. world.So hindu people celebrates this Maha Shivaratri festival to honor and thank Lord Shiva for protecting the world.
Pashupatinath Temple Is Special During Maha Shivaratri.
Maha Shivaratri is a National Holiday in Nepal and celebrated widely in temples all over the country, but especially in the Pashupatinath temple. Thousands of devotees visit the famous Shiva Shakti Peetham nearby as well. The Nepalese army parades around the city of Kathmandu to pay tribute to Lord Shiva, and holy rituals are performed all over the nation. Artists from various classical music and dance forms perform through the night. On Maha Shivaratri, married women pray for the well being of their husbands, while unmarried women pray for a husband like Shiva, considered as the ideal husband. Shiva is also worshipped as the Adi Guru (first teacher) from whom the yogic tradition originates.
-Wikipedia
Pashupatinath, lies in kathmandu Nepal is the biggest temple of Lord Shiva so there is always big crowd of prayers at Pashupatinath Temple during this night/day.Thousands of visitors come to the Pashupatinath Temple to celebrate Maha Shivaratri and the Shiva Shakti Peetham nearby. The temple is dedicated to Lord Shiva in the form of Pashupati, Lord of the Animals. Legend has it that Lord Shiva roamed as a deer in the forests in the area. The temple is open only to Hindus with several shrines and pavilions where yogis and priests chant or meditate.
Maha Shivaratri And Marijuana/ Weed.
A Hindu Shadhu Smoking Pot(marijuana) at Pashupatinath Mandir During Mahashivaratri, image-himalayantimes.com.
And an interesting fact is that the use of marijuana, datura and similar stuff are associated with lord Shiva and almost like free during this festival in Nepal due to these religious significance.
And smoking marijuana has become a norm of sorts for many people who visit the Pashupati temple on the Mahashivarati festival.
A Hindu shadhu smoking marijuana at Pashupatinath Temple during Mahashivaratri.image-himalayantimes.com
It is usual to see yogis or sadhus sitting naked, covered with ash or smoking marijuana during the festival. . It is believed that after Shiva’s consort died, he came to the forests near the temple, smeared with ash, wearing a serpent and draped in a tiger skin. While there, he smoked marijuana which grows wild in the forests.
*Naked Shadu at Pashupatinath Temple During Maha Shivaratri. Image Source
A Nepalese youth smoking marijuana with Shadhus at Pashupatinath temple during Maha Shivaratri. Image--ekantipur
are those guys naked year round or only on special occasions?
There are sadhus who tend to be naked and those who don't. Those who prefer the naked lifestyle are naked all of the time. It's their way of life. We only notice them in special occassions like in Maha Shiva Ratri because thats the only time that they make public appearance, for most of the time other than special occassions they like remaining quiet and stealth devoting themselves in the worship of the God Shiva.
there are some like that in San Francisco
I hope you got your answer, thanks to @bslash. We see them during Maha Shivaratri only. These naked shadus come to Pashupatinath from different part of Nepal and mainly India to celebrate this special occasion of Lord shiva since Pashupatinath is the biggest temple of God Shiva. And some people visit pasupatinath during this day just to see those naked shadus and their acts lol..
you may see them in USA too(i really don't know) but somewhere I read it that population of hindus in USA is increasing and may come in first by the 2050..so its possible you can see them in USA too.
Do they tour around to different temples during different parts of the year for different festivals or is there just the one big event a year?
Some Shadu-like pepople(We call them Jogi,) also travel around while begging, but they are not real Shadus like in the discussion here. We can not see real Shadus all the time because they do not appear publicly,otherwise they spend their time meditating and Worshiping Lord Shiva.
do they do that in a temple or do they have their own houses or do they live outdoors?
hey @steemnepal Please Follow and Upvote me
Sooner or later I'll be downvoting comments like this.
thank you so much my brothers and sisters for posting these events on this revolutionary platform for us who love Lord Shiva around the world, we may not be there in person but you have enlightened my night to know that Lord Shiva is still remembered and adored. Much Love. Have a great festival you Legends!
Thanks for your kind words :).