Preparations for Maha Shivratri, the night of Lord Shiva on Sunday, which is widely celebrated by Hindus around the world, have completed, the Pashupati Area Development Trust said Saturday.
Members of Maha Shivratri Organising Committee said all necessary arrangements including security, volunteer service, accommodation of devotees and cleaning of Gaushala area near the Pashupatinath Temple have completed before evening today. “All necessary arrangements have been made to make sure that devotees get easy access to the temple for worshiping,” Ram Prasad Dahal, coordinator of the committee, told reporters at the Pathupati Temple premises.
According to him, food and night accommodation would be provided free of cost for Sahus (sages) and pilgrims from faraway places while proper arrangement for drinking water, medical and other emergency services have been made.
He said over 220,000 visitors from around the country and neighboring India including 2000 Nagas (naked sadhus), are expected in the Pashupati area on the Maha Shivratri day.
Various social and religious organisations would also be assisting for food and lodging for pilgrims from outside the Kathmandu Valley.
Over 1600 policemen, hundreds of volunteers from various organisations and a squad of the Unified Command have been deployed for security in the Pashupati area, Dahal informed.
Devotees are expected to line up for worship inside the temple after 1:00 a.m. Sunday while the main gate will open from 3:00 a.m. “We have made arrangements to make sure that devotees do not have to wait longer hours,” he said.