Divine moment at Lingaraj Temple: Mahadipa lighting marks climax of Maha Shivratri

Thousands of devotees broke their day-long fast after the sacred ‘Mahadipa’ (gigantic lamp) was lifted atop Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar at around 8.40 PM on Sunday amid chants of ‘Om Namah Shivaya’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’.

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After the Bedha Parikrama rituals wherein servitors move around the temple, the holy lamp was lit, and then the servitors carrying the Mahadipa climbed the 16th-century Shaivite shrine and put the lamp atop the shrine.

With this, the devotees broke their day-long fast. The Mahadipa was lifted at 8.40 PM instead of the scheduled 10.00 PM. The festival was observed in all Shaiva Peethas across the State with religious fervour.

At the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, a significant influx of devotees was witnessed in the evening, for the spectacular lifting of Mahadipa atop the temple.

Earlier in the day, devotees in large numbers thronged the famous shrines across Odisha, including Lord Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar, Lokanath temple in Puri, Akhandalamani temple at Aradi in Bhadrak, Kapilash temple in Dhenkanal, Baideswar temple in Cuttack, Ladu Baba temple in Nayagarh and others to offer worship to Lord Shiva.

All the temple authorities had made elaborate arrangements, such as putting up barricades for smooth Darshan of the presiding deity by devotees. The shrines were beautifully decorated and illuminated. At some temples, Bhajan programmes were also organised.

Devotees gathered around the illuminated lamps, praying for the welfare of their families and loved ones, and seeking the divine blessings of Lord Mahadev.