Bhubaneswar: Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik extended warm greetings to the people of state on the auspicious festival of Mahashivratri.
In her felicitations, CM wished that the auspicious day usher the state in new era of peace and development and strengthen bonds of brotherhood among the people.
He tweeted: “Pabitra Mahashivaratri upalakhe mara hardika subecha o subhakamana prabhu Mahadevanka apar krupa o ashirbad samastanka kalian hau.”
ପବିତ୍ର ମହାଶିବରାତ୍ରି ଉପଲକ୍ଷେ ରାଜ୍ୟବାସୀଙ୍କୁ ମୋର ହାର୍ଦ୍ଦିକ ଶୁଭେଚ୍ଛା ଓ ଶୁଭକାମନା। ପ୍ରଭୁ ମହାଦେବଙ୍କ ଅପାର କୃପା ଓ ଆଶୀର୍ବାଦରୁ ସମସ୍ତଙ୍କ କଲ୍ୟାଣ ହେଉ। #MahaShivaratri2019 pic.twitter.com/ggYpB7vMSC
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) March 4, 2019
Meanwhile, devotees thronged various Shiva temples across Odisha since morning to offer special prayers to Lord Shiva. People in large numbers visited Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, Lokanath Temple in Puri, Dhabaleswar Temple in Athagarh, Chandrashekhar Temple at Kapilash in Dhenkanal and Akhandalamani Temple at Aradi in Bhadrak to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva.
This year, the Mahadeepa which marks the end of the puja, has been scheduled to be placed atop Lingaraj temple at 10 pm.
The temple authorities and Commissionerate Police have made special arrangements in and outside the temple to ensure hassle-free darshan of the deity. Barricades have been put for smooth movement of the devotees. This apart, 30 platoons of police force and CCTV cameras have been installed to keep a tab on the devotees.
The festival is also being observed with similar religious fervour in all Shiv temples.
PNN
