Bhubaneswar: Preparations are in the final stages at various Shiva shrines across the state for Maha Shivratri on Wednesday, with the Lingaraj Temple in the city set to witness the congregation of thousands of devotees. The administration has made elaborate arrangements to ensure the smooth conduct of rituals and manage the crowd at the 11th century shrine.
Several rounds of preparatory meetings were held for the grand event. Law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan on Monday said, “All necessary arrangements have been made so that devotees can offer prayers at the temple in a hassle-free manner. The ‘mahadeep’ (sacred lamp) will be raised atop the temple at 10 pm on Wednesday. Several rounds of discussions were already conducted with different nijogs, expecting their cooperation.”
The temple authorities, along with Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) and commissionerate police, have put in place security measures and crowd management strategies. More than 35 platoons of police forces and over 200 officers have been deployed, and CCTV cameras have been installed at key locations to monitor the movement of devotees.
“Special barricades have been set up to regulate the queue system. Adequate lighting, drinking water facilities and medical teams will be available for the devotees. We are also ensuring proper sanitation inside and outside the temple,” said Rudra Narayan Mohanty, administrator in-charge of Lingaraj Temple.
Lifting of the ‘mahadeep’ atop the temple’s spire is a key ritual that draws devotees from across the state. However, the ongoing tussle between the Brahmana Nijog servitors of the temple may affect the smooth and timely conduct of rituals.
“Temple doors will open early morning, and special pujas will be conducted throughout the day. The biggest attraction is the ‘mahadeep’ ritual. Though the time has been fixed at 10 pm, we cannot guarantee that the rituals will be performed timely as it requires proper coordination among the servitors,” said Sachikanta Pujapanda, secretary of Pujapanda Nijog.
“Everything is alright within the nijog and rituals will be observed on time,” said secretary of Brahmana Nijog, Narayan Mohapatra.
“I have been coming to Lingaraj Temple for Maha Shivratri for several years. The atmosphere here is divine, and witnessing the ‘Mahadeepa’ is a spiritual experience,” said Sudhanshu Panda, a devotee from Old Town.
Apart from Lingaraj Temple, other prominent shrines like Kapilash Temple in Dhenkanal, Gupteswar Temple in Koraput, Dhabaleswar near Cuttack, Akhandalamani in Aradi, Panchalingeswar in Balasore, and Lokanath Temple in Puri are also gearing up for the festival with special rituals and security measures in place. Authorities have urged devotees to follow security protocols and cooperate with officials for smooth and safe celebrations.