Puri/Bhadrak/Jajpur: Spiritual fervour prevailed in Shiva shrines in Puri’s Loknath temple, Baba Akhandalmani Peetha at Aradi in Bhadrak and Mahabinayak temple in Jajpur district on the occasion of Maha Shivratri.
The Loknath temple, which has been opened for darshan after a gap of two years, witnessed huge rush of devotees from the town and outside districts.
Informing about the security arrangements, Puri SP Vishal Singh said a queue system has been made inside and outside the Loknath temple, traffic diversions too have been and 1 Additional SP, 3 DSP and 40 officers are in charge of 8 platoons which have been deployed for smooth conduct of the Maha Shivratri celebrations in the town.
The rituals in the temple started in he early hours and the Mahadeep will be raised atop the temple between 3 am and 4 am (early hours of Wednesday) after the ‘Harihara Bheta’ ritual late tonight, said Santosh Kumar Panda of Loknath Temple Trust Board.
Bhadrak’s Baba Akhandalmani Peetha at Aradi is bustling with unending flow of devotees from the wee hours. The temple doors were opened at 4 am after which the queen of erstwhile Kanika visited and offered the first prasad. This was followed by ‘khechudi’ offering by the servitors after which other rituals were performed and devotees were allowed inside for darshan.
At Jajpur, a special procession of Baba is performed in each temple, and a large crowd of devotees flock to see the Lord. People thronged Mahabinayak, Baba Baruneshwar, Lingeshwar temples in large numbers t offer their prayers.
Extensive arrangements have been made by the temple administration for the smooth progress of the festival and darshan. The ‘Mahadeep’ will be lifted in the evening after the completion of rituals, said a priest.
