Devotees in large numbers throng Shiva temples across Odisha on Maha Shivaratri

Bhubaneswar (26/02/2025): Thousands of devotees thronged Shiva temples across Odisha to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion of Mahashivratri.

Devotees in large numbers have started visiting several shrines including Lord Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, Lokanath in Puri, Dhabaleswar Peetha in Cuttack, Kapilas in Dhenkanal, Akhandalamani in Bhadrak and Ladu Baba Peetha in Nayagarh. At Lord Lingaraj Temple, the Mahadeepa will be raised atop the shrine at 10 pm.

Around 40 platoons of police force have been deployed for maintaining law and order.

Devotees made a beeline outside the shrine to offer prayers to Lord Lingaraj. Similarly, the Mahadeepa will be placed atop Dhabaleswar Peetha at 1 am.

At Kapilas, the Mahadeep will be raised atop the shrine at 4:20 am.

Similarly, the Mahadeep will be placed atop the Ladu Baba Peetha at 12 am. A huge rush of devotees has also been witnessed at the famous Lokanath shrine in Puri. Daylong fasting and offerings of wood apple (bael) leaves are the significant practices on this day.