KATHMANDU, Feb 25: The Maha Shivaratri festival, slated for February 26, is fully prepared for by the Pashupati Area Development Trust in Kathmandu. The PADT held a press conference on Monday to announce arrangements ensuring 10 devotees have darshan in 2 seconds during the festival.
To facilitate the ease of devotees coming for darshan, the PADT has formed ten sub-committees. Rajkumar Khatri, coordinator of the publicity and decoration sub-committee, shared this information.
He said, "This time, we have arranged for ten people to have darshan in two seconds. Our goal is to provide devotees with a quick and easy darshan experience. We expect the number of devotees coming for darshan to increase compared to last year."
Devotees observe Pashupatinath shadow darshan
He said that four lines will be set up outside the Pashupati entrance, while three lines will be available at the west and north gates, and two lines at the east and south gates. Coordinator Khatri also requested devotees to respect the plastic-free zone inside the Pashupati complex.
He said, "We will open the gates for darshan from 2:30 AM on February 26 until 6:00 PM on the February 27 (Thursday). We expect over 500,000 devotees to have darshan during this period. Additionally, the number of people entering the temple premises will increase."
He also informed that the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, under the leadership of Minister Badri Prasad Pandey, has formed a central event committee for Shivaratri preparations. According to him, arrangements have been made to ensure easy access to cleanliness, toilets, drinking water, and places to leave footwear within the Pashupati area.
Coordinator Khatri stated that the sub-committees have made arrangements for security, publicity, darshan, night-time management, accommodation, food, and the sacred fire (dhuni). The PADT said that the sub-committees have already started working on security, monitoring, publicity, darshan, Chandan Mandir and night-time arrangements, accommodation, food, firewood for the sacred fire, religious programs, and footwear management.
Khatri also stated that the flower decorations for the main entrance of the temple and other areas will be completed by the day before Shivaratri. He further stated that the Naga Babas' sacred fire (dhuni) would be accommodated within Pashupatinath's main temple.
Authorities expect thousands of pilgrims and tourists from neighboring India and other countries to visit during Maha Shivaratri. Colorful designs, flowers, and electric lights decorate various areas of Pashupatinath.
