Bhubaneswar: Shree Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, one of Odisha’s most revered shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, witnessed a massive influx of devotees on Sunday (February 15) on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri.
With lakhs of pilgrims expected to converge on the temple premises, which has been beautifully illuminated, for darshan of the presiding deity, culminating with Mahadeepa ritual scheduled for around 10 pm, the temple administration, in collaboration with local authorities including the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), Commissionerate Police, has implemented a comprehensive crowd management strategy.
A key change this year is one-way movement system inside the temple complex. Devotees will be permitted to enter only through the Lions’ Gate (Simha Dwara). After offering prayers in the sanctum sanctorum, they have to exit via the Dakshina Dwara (south gate).
By restricting entry to only the Lions’ Gate and prohibiting use of other entrances, authorities seek to avoid the chaos experienced when pass holders and general devotees previously shared the same access points for both entry and exit.. o further streamline access to the inner sanctum, special entry passes have been limited to 1,500 this year. These cover select devotees, VIPs, servitors, and other stakeholders. Ekamra-Bhubaneswar MLA Babu Singh emphasised that all passes are QR-coded and scannable only once, preventing reuse, duplication, or unauthorized access.
Strict enforcements are in place, with warnings of action against fake passes.
Additional measures include barricading, rope queues, dedicated volunteer support, CCTV monitoring, separate parking zones, drinking water facilities, sanitation arrangements, and waste management with dustbins placed strategically and advice against single-use plastic for flowers or prasad.
Ban on drones
To bolster security during the Maha Shivratri celebrations, Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Police Commissionerate issued an advisory emphasising that no drones or UAVs are permitted to fly in the designated area without prior permission from the relevant authorities.
The Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) has classified Lingaraj Temple area as a “red zone,” a restricted airspace designation that imposes strict controls on aerial activities to safeguard sensitive locations.
Traffic restrictions
The Commissionerate Police has also issued traffic advisory on stretches leading to the 11th-century shrine, which will be effective from the midnight of February 14 till the completion of the rituals for Maha Shivratri. Designated parking places have been identified, and people have been advised to follow the traffic regulations for a smooth and safe experience.
