Bhubaneswar: Devotees in large numbers thronged shiva shrines across Odisha to offer prayers on occasion of Mahashivratri Saturday.
Long queues were seen in front of Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar, Loknath temple in Puri, Kapileshwar temple at Kapilash in Dhenkanal district,Akhandalamani temple in Bhadrak district and Dhaneshwar temple in Cuttack since early hours Saturday.
Elaborate security arrangements have been made in and around these temples for the smooth conduct of the devotees to the temple and the celebration of the Mahashivratri. Commissionerate of Police sources here said as many as 32 platoons forces have been deployed around Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar.
As many as 11 Additional SPs, 11 ACPs, 19. Inspectors and 80 SI and ASIs have also been deployed .
CCTV has been installed at strategic locations to monitor the movement of the devotees.
In the evening Bhajan Sandhya’s have been organised in front of several Shiva temples in the state. Around 30 eminent singers are scheduled to perform programmes in front of Lingaraj temple here.
Police have diverted traffic for the smooth movement of vehicles. Lingraj Temple sources said the “Mahadip” will be lifted at 10 PM tonight.
Similarly, traffic has been tightened around the Dhabaleswar temple where the devotees have been barred from using the hanging bridge and boats to reach the temple.
Instead, a temporary road was laid in the river Mahanadi for the smooth movement of devotees to the shrine.
UNI
