Devotees throng Shivalaya shrines across country on Mahashivaratri

Kathmandu, Feb 26: On the occasion of Mahashivaratri festival, devotees have gathered at Shiva temples across the country including at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu. Mahashivaratri festival is celebrated marking the coming into being of Lord Shiva.

All the four gates of Pashupatinath temple were opened from 2 am today on the occasion for the convenience of devotees to offer their obeisance. The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) spokesperson Rewati Raman Adhikari told RSS that devotees have been thronging the Pashupatinath area since 2 am. Four queues have been arranged from the outer part of the Pashupati area and eight from the interior for the devotees for worshipping. 

The queue of devotees has become very long. Arrangements have been made for devotees to line up and pay homage to Lord Shiva in a systematic manner, he said.

On the occasion of Mahashivaratri, 400 receipts have been issued for organizing special worship at Pashupatinath temple today. Spokesperson Adhikari said that out of the 400 special worships for which receipts have been issued, 200 special worships have been completed in the morning and the worship for the remaining 200 receipts will be conducted in the evening.

Achyut Subedi, a broadcast journalist who has been active in the live broadcast from the Pashupati area since early morning today, said that devotees have been able to enter the main temple in a systematic manner since the morning.

The Nepali Army also sprinkled flower petals in the Pashupati area today on the occasion of Mahashivaratri. The Nepali Army has also organized a free health camp in the area.

Various other organizations have also operated free health camp at Pashupati area today. Various organizations are providing food, water and other services at Hansmandap.

On the occasion of Mahashivaratri, government and non-governmental organizations including the Guthi Sansthan, PADT and other community organizations have made arrangements for the sadhus visiting the Pashupatinath Temple since last Monday.

Due to the huge crowd on the day of Mahashivaratri, some devotees return after seeing the pinnacle of the Pashupatinath Temple without standing in line. 

According to theologian Prof Dr Ram Chandra Gautam, it is believed that one will be blessed even by paying homage to the temple pinnacle from the vicinity of the Pashupatinath temple, even if not paying homage in the temple sanctum sanctorum.

The temple premises have been lavishly decorated with colourful electric lights and flower garlands and festoons. (RSS)