Mahashivratri: ‘Mahadeepa’ To Be Raised Atop Lingaraj Temple At 10 PM

Bhubaneswar: The ‘Mahadeepa’ of Lord Shiva will be raised atop Lingaraj Temple at 10 pm during Mahashivratri on February 21.

A decision to this effect was taken at a meeting of the Temple Trust Board presided over by the chairman and Khurda collector Sitanshu Kumar Rout here on Wednesday.

For timely and smooth conduct of the festivals, the following decisions were taken at the meeting.

—The temple will be opened at 2.30 am on February 21
—Mangala Alati and Abakasha rituals will be performed at 3 am
—The Sahanamela (darshan) of the Lord will continue from 4 am to 11.30 am
—Other rituals of the Lord will be held from 11.30 am to 3.45 pm
— The second Sahanamela (darshan) of the Lord will continue from 3.45 pm to 4.45 pm
—The remaining rituals of the Lord will be held from 4.45 pm to 10 pm
—The final Sahanamela (darshan) of the Lord will be from 10 pm to 11 pm

To facilitate the devotees in the smooth darshan of the Lord, the meeting decided to have a discussion with the Works Department for laying tiles in the open space outside the temple.

Besides, more streetlights, CCTV cameras and temporary sheds will be put up around the temple boundary.