Bhubaneswar, Feb 26: On auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri today, devotees thronged Lord Shiva temples across Odisha to seek blessings of the Lord and offered prayers.
From Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar to Lokanath in Puri, Dhabaleshwar in Athagarh, and Kapilash in Dhenkanal, the atmosphere resonates with chants of "Har Har Mahadev" and “Om Namah Shivaya”.
The iconic Lingaraj Temple in the capital city is decked up magnificently for the grand celebrations. Devotees gathered in large numbers for the sacred rituals, beginning with the ‘Dwarafita’ ceremony at 3:30 AM. Following this, the Mangala Arati and Abakash rituals were performed. The temple authorities have ensured a structured schedule for devotees, allowing them to offer prayers and seek blessings of Lord Lingaraj until 11 AM.
A significant highlight of the Maha Shivratri celebrations is the ‘Maha Deepa’ ritual, for which elaborate preparations have been made. As per temple authorities, the ‘Maha Deepa’ will be raised atop the temple at 10 PM.
“Maha Shivratri is the most important day of the year for me. I have been fasting since morning and will stay up all night chanting Shiva’s name. The atmosphere here at Lingaraj Temple is truly divine,” said Ramesh Pradhan, a devotee.
Other prominent Shiva temples in Odisha, including Harishankar in Balangir, Kapilash in Dhenkanal, Akhandalamani in Aradi, and Gupteshwar in Koraput, are also witnessing an overwhelming gathering of devotees.
At the Dhabaleshwar Peetha in Athagarh, Lord Dhabaleshwar is adorned in majestic ‘Badasinghara’ attire and decorated with fragrant Ketaki flowers.
“It feels wonderful to be part of this grand celebration. Dhabaleshwar Peetha temple is beautifully decorated, and the spiritual energy is overwhelming. I prayed for my family’s well-being and feel truly blessed,” said Sita Mohanty, a devotee from Cuttack.
“I traveled from Puri to Bhubaneswar just to witness the Maha Deepa ritual. The devotion and faith of the people here are inspiring. This festival unites us all in the spirit of Lord Shiva’s blessings,” said Ajay Das.
Given the massive turnout, security arrangements have been heightened at all major temple sites.
At Lingaraj Temple alone, stringent measures have been implemented to manage the crowd. Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs) Jagmohan Minna and Pinak Mishra have been deployed to oversee security arrangements.
Additionally, 48 platoons of police force have been deployed to maintain law and order situation and ensure the safety of devotees.
