Elaborate Security Arrangements In Bhubaneswar For Maha Shivratri At Lingaraj Temple

Bhubaneswar: Elaborate security arrangements have been made by the Commissionerate Police for the Maha Shivratri celebration at the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

Giving details about the measures taken for Shivratri, Bhubaneswar DCP Prateek Singh told media that five ADCPs, 18 ACPs, 21 IICs, 84 SIs, and 93 ASIs are being deployed at various locations in four shifts to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival.

While special parking arrangements have been made at various places in the city for smooth traffic management, CCTV cameras are being installed and police personnel in civil dresses will be deployed at different locations to maintain law and order during the festival.

This apart, ODRAF and Fire Services personnel will also be deployed to deal with any kind of untoward incidents, the DCP said.

The temple administration has also made elaborate arrangements for the smooth conduct of the rituals during Maha Shivratri. It has been decided that all the rituals of Lord Lingaraj will be smoothly conducted in due time.

As per schedule, the ‘Mahadipa’ of Lord Lingaraj will be raised atop the temple at around 10 pm on Maha Shivratri. This was decided during a preparatory meeting for the celebrations. The schedule of all other rituals has also been fixed in the meeting.

‘Mangala Alati’ and ‘Abakasha’ rituals of Lord Lingaraj will be conducted between 3 am to 3.30 am on Friday. Subsequently, ‘Sahanamela Darshan’ will be carried out from 3.30 am till 12 pm. Then ‘Mahasnana’ and ‘Besha’ rituals will be held till 12.45 pm. Thereafter, ‘Surya Puja’, ‘Dwarapala Puja’, and ‘Sakala Dhupa’ rituals will be performed between 12.45 pm till 2.30 pm. Similarly, ‘Bhoga Mandapa’, ‘Sandhya Alati’, ‘Majana’, Jatra Puja, ‘Bedha’ and ‘Sandhya Dhupa’ rituals will be performed at 2.45 pm, 7.10 pm, 7.30 pm, 8.10 pm, and 8.55 pm respectively.

Following the completion of all the rituals, the ‘Mahadipa’ of Lord Lingaraj will be raised atop the temple at around 10 pm, sources said.