Mahashivaratri being observed

Mahashivaratri, one of the greatest festivals of Hindus, is being observed across the country today. Thousands of devotees are offering prayers to lord Shiva in the temples. Some 350,000 are expected to visit Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu alone.

The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has set up six main queues leading to Pashupati temple to avoid problems of visitors to pay homage to Lord Shiva. The PADT has barred devotees from offering homage to lord Pashupatinath during the visit of the King, Prime Minister or other high-level dignitaries.

Significant numbers of volunteers have been mobilized to help devotees ease while offering prayers. The security in and around the temple has been tightened to check any untoward incidents during the festival and avoid embarrassments like that of last year when unidentified groups had pelted stones at the convoy of King Gyanendra while he was returning from the temple on the day.

The Mahashivaratri festival is celebrated every year on the 14th day in the Krishna Paksha of the month of Falgun according to Hindu calendar. The devotees take fast and worship god Shiva and all night long vigil. Some 3,000 sadhus  have arrived Pashupatinath temple.