Millions of devotees have been present in the Pashupatinath area since this morning to pay homage to Lord Pashupatinath on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.
The four doors of Pashupatinath main temple have been opened for Mahashivaratri since 4 am.
A member of the Pashupati Area Development Fund and coordinator of the fair management committee, Purna Sangam Jethara, said that 500 volunteers have been mobilized in the Pashupati Nath area to facilitate the visit of devotees. He said, "We have been mobilizing 500 volunteers since morning for the convenience of the devotees. We have also mobilized additional volunteers as per the need."
Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Prem Bahadur Ale has been on duty since this morning to manage the temple and worship keeping in mind the presence of devotees in the temple. He arrived at the temple at 3 o'clock this morning and made all the necessary preparations.
Earlier, he had instructed to make a picture of God on the walls and empty space of Pashupatinath area, decorate the area with flowers of different colors and so on. Since he himself has been working and giving instructions in the Pashupatinath area on the occasion of Mahashivaratri since last week, it has been seen that it is easy and well organized to hold fairs and darshan in Pashupatinath this time.
It is said that the number of security personnel has been increased along with the increase in the number of visitors in Pashupati area from this afternoon. Mahashivaratri, celebrated every year on the night of Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi, is said to be a special day to please Lord Shiva. As Parabrahma assumes the form of Shiva at midnight on the day of Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi, worship, adoration and darshan are performed on the day of Chaturdashi at midnight, said Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa, Member Secretary of Pashupati Area Development Fund.
Similarly, a main function committee and 10 sub-committees have been formed under the chairmanship of Prem Bahadur Ale, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Chairman of the Fund for the successful completion of the festival.
Devotees coming to Pashupatinath on the occasion of Mahashivaratri have been waiting in line since last night, so they may get sick. Three pilgrimage routes have been arranged for visiting the temple. There will be a line from Guheshwari-Gaurighat, Umakunda-Dakshinamurti to the north gate of Rudra Gadeshwar, Mitra Park Jayabageshwari, Intapakha to Bhubaneswar through the iron gate to the west gate and Battispulti, Gaushala, Airport, Tilganga four Shivalayas.
Following the directive of Minister Ale, the Pashupati Area Development Fund has provided free meals at Hansmandap, Nirmal Akhada, Bhashmeshwar Akhada, Annapurna Bhandar and other places. After entering the main temple premises, three inner lines from north and south and four inner lines from west have been managed. Crowds of devotees lined up outside all day today. Ghanshyam Khatiwada, executive director of Pashupati Area Development Fund, informed that the line on the south has reached Tribhuvan International Airport, the line on the north has reached Guheshwari and the line on the west has reached Gaushala. According to him, a large number of saints and devotees have also come from neighboring India to pay homage to Pashupatinath.
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