Preparations for Mahashivratri fair are complete

All the preparations for the Mahashivaratri fair to be held at Pashupatinath on February 6th Trayodashi have been completed.

According to the Pashupati Area Development Fund, eight sub-committees have been formed for the convenience of devotees who come to visit Pashupatinath on Mahashivratri. A core ceremony committee has been formed under the coordination of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Minister Sudan Kiranti for the preparation of Shivratri. Apart from journalists and volunteers, no pass has been arranged for entering the Pashupatinath area this year.

It is estimated that at least 2 million devotees will have direct darshan of Pashupatinath during this year's Shivratri and arrangements have been made for darshan through five lines for the management of devotees.

Narayan Subedi, Treasurer of Pashupati Area Development Fund informed that this time during Mahashivratri, food will be arranged in the Hansmandap area for the sadhusant who come from different places to fill the fair at Jagannathpuri's Govardhan Math. According to him, arrangements have been made for cleanliness, toilets, drinking water and a place to keep shoes and slippers in the Pashupati area.

Security arrangements, publicity, darshan, night arrangements, accommodation, food, music etc are also being arranged. According to the Pashupati Area Development Fund, the sub-committee has started work to monitor security arrangements, publicity arrangements, darshan, sandalwood temple and night arrangements, accommodation, food, firewood arrangements for Dhuni, arrangements for religious programs and management of footwear.

Likewise, Ghanshyam Khatiwada, executive director of the development fund, informed that the work of decorating the main door of the temple with flowers will be completed one day before Shivratri. According to him, firewood will be arranged in Nirmal, Bhashmeshwar, Ram Mandir, Sri Gorakhnath (Mrigasthali), Annapurna and other places of Pashupati region for Dhuni.

Similarly, arrangements have been made for Naga Baba in the main temple complex of Pashupatinath, according to the organisers. Around 1,500 Nepal Police and Armed Police will be deployed for peace and security management during this year's Shivratri. The Nepali Army will also assist in the management of the original temple premises. Thousands of pilgrims and tourists are expected to enter from neighbouring countries including India on Mahashivratri.

Various areas of Pashupatinath are now colourfully decorated with flowers and electric lights in collaboration with the Marwari society. On the occasion of Mahashivratri, a Prabhat Feri program was held in Pashupatinath area on Thursday morning.

Pashupati Development Fund officials, employees, heads of government and non-government agencies, civil society leaders, students and Nepali Army, Nepal Police and Armed Police participated in the Prabhat Feri from the west gate of Pashupati this morning.