Shiva is worshipped both by lay devotees and by ascetic orders. Lay Shaivas attend temples, perform puja offerings, and may mark their foreheads with three horizontal ash stripes. Ascetic Shaivas follow diverse traditions, some wearing cremation-ground symbolism or emphasizing identity with the deity. The lingam is a central object of worship in temples and private shrines. Important holidays or days of sacred significance for Shiva include Maha Shivaratri (“Great Night of Shiva”), the month of Shravana (July–August), and Mondays (associated with the Moon). Some traditions associate Holi, Diwali, and Guru Purnima with Shiva’s mythology.
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