Bhubaneswar: A coordination committee meeting was held Saturday at the Circuit House here to review preparations for the upcoming Maha Shivratri festival of Lord Lingaraj. The meeting was chaired by Khurda District Collector Amrit Ruturaj.
It was attended by Bhubaneswar–Ekamra MLA Babu Singh, BMC Mayor Sulochana Das, temple servitors, officials of the Lingaraj Temple Administration, representatives of various voluntary organisations, and senior district and civic authorities. At the outset, Additional District Magistrate (Bhubaneswar) Ramesh Chandra Jena welcomed the participants and presented the draft proposals.
It was informed that Jagar Yatra will be observed February 15, with the Lingaraj Temple opening at 3 am for essential rituals. Servitors were urged to cooperate to ensure the timely completion of rituals as per the fixed schedule. For the convenience of devotees within the temple premises, barricading and beautification work have been entrusted to the Archaeological Survey Department.
The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) will handle illumination of the temple surroundings, cleaning of Mauni Ghat, setting up of primary medical centres, deployment of ambulances, installation of signage, and construction of temporary toilets. The meeting also reviewed arrangements for devotee sheds, power supply, drinking water, police deployment, traffic management, law and order, fire safety, information centres, health and sanitation services, emergency medical units, and deployment of Red Cross and other voluntary organisations.