THOUSANDS OF DEVOTEES THRONG SHIVA TEMPLES ACROSS ODISHA ON MAHASHIVRATRI
Bhubaneswar(08/03/2024): 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, Chandrasekhar at Kapilas in Dhenkanal. Akhandalamani in Bhadrak, Ladukeswar in Nayagarh and Gupteswar in Koraput.
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. The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate police has made elaborate security arrangements for the Maha Shivratri celebration at the Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar. As many as 5 ADCPs, 18 ACPs, 21 IICs, 84 SIs, and 93 ASIs will be deployed at various places in four shifts to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival. Special parking arrangements have been made at various places in Bhubaneswar for smooth traffic management.
CCTV cameras will be installed and cops in civil dresses will be deployed at different places to maintain law and order during the festival.
Besides, ODRAF and Fire Services personnel will also be deployed to prevent any kind of untoward incidents. The 'Mangala Alati' and 'Abakasha' rituals of Lord Lingaraj were performed between 3 am and 3:30 am.
Subsequently, the 'Sahanamela darshan' was carried out from 3:30 am. It will continue till 12 pm. The 'Mahasnana' and 'Besha' rituals will be held till 12:45 pm.
Thereafter, 'Surjya Puja', 'Dwarapala Puja' and 'Sakala Dhupa' rituals will be performed between 12:45 pm and 2:30 pm. Similarly, the 'Bhoga Mandapa', 'Sandhya Alati', 'Majana', 'Jatra Puja', 'Bedha' and 'Sandhya Dhupa' rituals will be performed at 2:45 pm, 7:10 pm, 7:30 pm, 8:10 pm and 8:30 pm, respectively. Following the completion of all the rituals, the Mahadeepa will be taken atop the temple at 10 pm.
