Bhubaneswar: Today is Maha Shivratri and the auspicious festival is being celebrated in Shiva shrines across Odisha amid strict COVID-19 restrictions.
The Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar opened for Sahana Mela darshan at 3.45 pm on Wednesday and continue till 4.45 pm on Thursday. The ‘Mahadeepa’ will be raised atop the 11th-century shrine at 10 pm. The ritual will be followed at Loknath temple at 4 am.
The Jagara Yatra rituals will be observed at Baba Akhandalmani Pitha in Bhadrak and Dhabaleswar Pitha in Cuttack sans devotees with the administrations having clamped Section 144 of CrPC to prevent huge congregations.
‘Mahadeepa’ will be lifted atop Dhabaleswar temple at 1 pm and the famous Mandua Prasad will be offered to the Lord as per the tradition.
At Kapilash in Dhenkanal, ‘Mahadeepa’ will be raised atop the temple at 4.30 am. Outstation devotees are not allowed the visit the shrine and those from the district have to produce a COVID-19 negative report to gain entry.
