Bhubaneswar: The Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar was decked up in flowers of different varieties of colours on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.
A large number of devotees thronged the temple on the day, amid COVID restrictions, to have a darshan of the deity.
For smooth conduct of the darshan, 35 platoons of force and 100 officers were deployed near and around the temple. A joint team of Commissionerate Police and BMC will be enforcing COVID guidelines at the 11th-century shrine, said the BMC officials.
The BMC has barred devotees from entering the sanctum sanctorum. They can have darshan of the Lord at Aada Katha but cannot perform puja there.
The ‘Mahadeepa’ is scheduled to be lifted atop the Dadhinauti (crown) of Lingaraj Temple on Maha Shivratri at 10 pm on Tuesday, the temple committee informed.
The rituals by the servitors will be conducted at the 11th-century shrine by observing COVID appropriate behaviour like wearing of mask and social distancing.
