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Bhubaneswar: Elaborate arrangements have been put in place for devotees who have started thronging at the shrines of Lord Shiva throughout the State to celebrate 'Maha Shivratri' tomorrow.
Temple authorities and district administration are geared up at Ekamra Kshetra in Bhubaneswar for the ‘Jagara’ celebrations of Lord Lingaraj. The administration has installed barricades in front of the temple. Mats will be laid out inside the temple for devotees. Besides, 22 CCTV cameras have been installed for security reasons.
Khurda District Collector Niranjan Sahu after taking stock of the situation today said, “We have finalised the schedule and distributed works among the functionaries so that the devotees can offer their worship smoothly.”
The rituals are scheduled to begin as early as 3AM in the morning and the Maha Dipa will be lifted atop Lingaraj temple at 10 PM in the night. However, rituals could be delayed on account of noncooperation threat given by Brahman and Puja Panda Nijog.
Talking to media persons Brahman Nijog Secretary Biranchi Narayan Pati said, “We have informed the district administration about our non-cooperation in the Shivratri, we have also apprised them about our demands and we will take further action after watching the steps taken by the administration.”
In Dhenkanal, with lakhs of devotees expected to visit the shrine of Lord Chandrasekhar in, police has made elaborate security arrangements for the celebration that is held in a different way at the shrine.
Dhenkanal SP Basant Kumar Panigrahi informed that 10 platoon of OSAP force, a Deputy Commandant of ASP rank, three officers of DSP rank and various police personnel of Inspector, SI and ASI ranks have been deployed to check the law and order situation.
Similarly preparations for Jagara and the rituals following it have been completed at Dhableswar shrine in Cuttack and Baba Loknath shrine in Puri. Two DSPs, six inspectors, three platoon police force and 20 Home Guards have been deployed to check traffic and temple security, informed Puri DSP Rabindra Rout.
