Post News Network
Dhenkanal, Feb 17: Devotees from different places in and outside Orissa reached Kapilash to worship and have a darshan of Lord Chandrasekhar.
Phalgun Amavasya Tuesday marked the holy night of Mahashivaratri. For women, Mahashivaratri is an auspicious festival. They observe fast and offer prayers both to Lord Shiva and Parvati to receive their grace for a peaceful and blissful married life. Devotees on this day remain on fast or perform spiritual meditation by following rituals to celebrate Mahashivaratri and be blessed with grace.
Makeshift stalls selling an assortment of belpatra, flowers of different varieties, earthen lamps and other paraphernalia have sprung up at foot of the Kapilash hill. A long queue of devotees was witnessed at the temple all through the day and in evening since early morning. The crowd is expected to peak at night, especially during the ‘Mahadeepa’ which would be carried atop the temple. District endowment officer Duryodhan Panigrahi said, “We have taken steps for smooth performance of all rituals in time. Mahadeepa is scheduled to be carried atop the temple at 4am after performance of rituals like Sholapuja, Maharudrabhishek, Mahasnana and Nagavarana besha.” Taking into account the huge crowd, elaborate security arrangements were made at the Kapilash temple. A team of doctors and an ambulance was on stand-by. Safety measures and traffic control were tightened. No vehicles except having special pass issued by the district administration were allowed to go near the temple at hilltop. “Nine platoons of APR and OSAP police force along with three DSPs, nine inspectors, nine sub-inspectors, 74 ASIs, eight habildars, 14 women constables, 42 constables and 112 home guards, have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order” additional SP Anil Kumar Das said.
The century-old Shiva temples at Paschimeswar, Swapneswar, Somanatheswar, Unnakoteswar have been bedecked for Mahashivaratri. Thousands of devotees throng Shiva temples. Temple gates had been opened at 4 am Tuesday on Mahashivaratri and darshan will continue until midnight.