Maha Shivratri at Lingaraj Temple: Elaborate security arrangements put in place

The Bhubaneswar-Cuttack Commissionerate Police has made elaborate security arrangements for the Maha Shivratri celebration at the Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar on Friday.

As many as 5 ADCPs, 18 ACPs, 21 IICs, 84 SIs, and 93 ASIs will be deployed at various places in four shifts to ensure the smooth conduct of the festival, said Bhubaneswar DCP, Prateek Singh.

“Special parking arrangements have been made at various places in Bhubaneswar for smooth traffic management. CCTV cameras will be installed and cops in civil dresses will be deployed at different places to maintain law and order during the festival. Besides, ODRAF and Fire Services personnel will also be deployed to prevent any kind of untoward incidents,” said Singh.

Meanwhile, the temple administration has made elaborate arrangements and is leaving no stone unturned for the smooth conduct of the rituals during Maha Shivratri. It has been decided that all the rituals of Lord Lingaraj will be smoothly conducted in due time.

The ‘Mahadipa’ of Lord Lingaraj will be raised atop the temple at around 10 pm on Maha Shivratri. This was decided during a preparatory meeting for Maha Shivratri celebrations. The schedule of all other rituals has also been fixed in the meeting.

As per reports, the ‘Mangala Alati’ and ‘Abakasha' rituals of Lord Lingaraj will be conducted between 3 am to 3.30 am on Friday. Subsequently, ‘Sahanamela Darshan’ will be carried out from 3.30 am till 12 pm. Then ‘Mahasnana’ and ‘Besha’ rituals will be held till 12.45 pm. Thereafter, ‘Surya Puja’, ‘Dwarapala Puja’, and ‘Sakala Dhupa’ rituals will be performed between 12.45 pm till 2.30 pm. Similarly, ‘Bhoga Mandapa’, ‘Sandhya Alati’, ‘Majana’, Jatra Puja, ‘Bedha’ and ‘Sandhya Dhupa’ rituals will be performed at 2.45 pm, 7.10 pm, 7.30 pm, 8.10 pm, and 8.55 pm respectively.

Following the completion of all the rituals, the ‘Mahadipa’ of Lord Lingaraj will be raised atop the temple at around 10 pm.