Bhubaneswar, Feb 26: Devotees in large numbers thronged Shiva temples across Odisha from the early hours of Wednesday to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri. Major shrines, including Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, Dhabaleswar in Cuttack, Kapilash in Dhenkanal, Akhandalamani in Bhadrak, Chandaneswar in Balasore, Huma Temple in Sambalpur, Loknath in Puri, Harishankar in Bolangir, and Gupteswar in Koraput, witnessed an overwhelming footfall.
At Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, devotees began forming long queues before dawn, eager to seek blessings from Lord Shiva. The large influx of devotees led to brief chaos, with reports of a few fainting incidents. This prompted Khurda Collector Chanchal Rana and Bhubaneswar DCP Pinak Mishra to visit the temple premises to assess the situation.
To ensure a smooth and peaceful celebration, stringent security measures were implemented across the state. DCP Mishra stated that around 40 platoons of police force, along with 150 officers of various ranks, had been deployed. Special traffic and parking arrangements were also made to manage the heavy rush. "Over one lakh devotees have already visited Lingaraj Temple since morning, and many more are still in queue," Mishra informed.
Khurda Collector Chanchal Rana emphasized the use of CCTV cameras around the temple premises to monitor the crowd. "We are closely observing the situation to ensure that all devotees get a chance to have darshan of Lord Lingaraj," he added.
Meanwhile, concerns were raised over the deployment of private bouncers at Loknath Temple in Puri. Addressing the issue, Puri SP Vinit Agrawal assured that he would investigate the matter. He confirmed that 11 platoons of police, including an additional SP, six DSPs, and 15 inspectors, had been stationed at the temple for effective crowd management.
In Bhadrak, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj visited the Akhandalamani Temple. Parida announced that the government had sanctioned ₹10 crore for the development of the temple’s periphery and assured that additional funds would be allocated if required.
Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik extended their greetings to the people on the occasion of Maha Shivratri, wishing for peace and prosperity.
As the celebrations continue, authorities remain vigilant to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience for all devotees.
At Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, devotees began forming long queues before dawn, eager to seek blessings from Lord Shiva. The large influx of devotees led to brief chaos, with reports of a few fainting incidents. This prompted Khurda Collector Chanchal Rana and Bhubaneswar DCP Pinak Mishra to visit the temple premises to assess the situation.
To ensure a smooth and peaceful celebration, stringent security measures were implemented across the state. DCP Mishra stated that around 40 platoons of police force, along with 150 officers of various ranks, had been deployed. Special traffic and parking arrangements were also made to manage the heavy rush. "Over one lakh devotees have already visited Lingaraj Temple since morning, and many more are still in queue," Mishra informed.
Khurda Collector Chanchal Rana emphasized the use of CCTV cameras around the temple premises to monitor the crowd. "We are closely observing the situation to ensure that all devotees get a chance to have darshan of Lord Lingaraj," he added.
Meanwhile, concerns were raised over the deployment of private bouncers at Loknath Temple in Puri. Addressing the issue, Puri SP Vinit Agrawal assured that he would investigate the matter. He confirmed that 11 platoons of police, including an additional SP, six DSPs, and 15 inspectors, had been stationed at the temple for effective crowd management.
In Bhadrak, Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida and Culture Minister Suryabanshi Suraj visited the Akhandalamani Temple. Parida announced that the government had sanctioned ₹10 crore for the development of the temple’s periphery and assured that additional funds would be allocated if required.
Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, and Leader of Opposition Naveen Patnaik extended their greetings to the people on the occasion of Maha Shivratri, wishing for peace and prosperity.
As the celebrations continue, authorities remain vigilant to ensure a smooth and hassle-free experience for all devotees.
