Every year India observes the day of Sivarathri in the early part of the year to commemorate the day when Lord Siva is supposed to have nearly swallowed the poison that came out of the churning of the ocean Palazhi. He is supposed to have kept the poison in his throat on his wife's bidding and not swallowed it. To avoid any harm he stayed awake the whole night for the poison to settle. Since then he is also called "neela kantha" or the Blue Throated One. Many say that this is an allegory to the many evil and poisonous instincts that we have in us that should not consume us nor should be acted out but kept in abeyance. Rituals and mores surrounding this have meant that Sivarathri is celebrated with devotees staying up all night and praying to the Lord keeping him company. In Haridwar there is a Maha Kumbh where people pray at the Ganges which is supposed to have its origins in Kailas , Lord Shiva's abode.
It is also common to find many travelling to the northern districts during these occasions.
Links on Sivaratri:
When is it observed?
http://www.mahashivratri.org/when-is-shivaratri.html
A wiki on sivaratri
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Shivaratri
The Sivaratri at Haridwar a tourist attraction.
http://news.outlookindia.com/item.aspx?674490
LINGASTHAKAM
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