HECTIC PREPARATIONS for Mahashivratri Mahotsav have begun in the city.
Prominent temples and muths of Lord Shiva, including Kashi Vishwanath temple, Gauri Kedareshwar temple, Mahamritunjaya Mahadev temple, Markaneya Mahadev temple, Shooltankeshwar temple and Tilbhandeshwar temple, are being decorated in various localities.
Barricading around Kashi Vishwanath temple has started in Chowk area to ensure smooth passage of devotees during the festival.
Lakhs of devotees throng the temples in the city on the occasion of Mahashivratri.
A series of religious rituals, such as Malgla aarti, Madhyan Bhog aarti, Rudrabhishek and Dugdabhishek, are performed at Shiva temples on Mahashivratri.
Besides, the devotees will take out a ‘Shiv baraat’ in various localities to mark the marriage ceremony of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.
A large number of devotees, under the banner of Sri Tilbhandeshwar Mahadev Sewa Samiti, will take out a ‘Shiv baraat’ from Tilbhadeshwar Mahadev temple on February 26. The procession will pass through Pande Haveli, Pande ghat, Mansarovar Baba, Harishchandra ghat and Hanuman ghat.
Other religious functions, such as bhajans, keertan and shringar, will also be held on the occasion.
{{/usCountry}}Other religious functions, such as bhajans, keertan and shringar, will also be held on the occasion.
{{/usCountry}}Shiv Sena activists are reportedly determined to perform ‘jalabhishek’ of Lord Shiva at Kashi Vishwanath temple and pay obeisance to Goddess Shringar Gauri on Mahashivratri. However, every year, the administration arrests them to avoid any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, the district administration has decided to deploy 33 magistrates to ensure smooth conduct of the festival.
At a meeting held at the District Rifle’s Club on Wednesday, district administrative officials reviewed the arrangements of Mahashivratri Mahotsav.
The administration is focussing on emergency medical services, proper sanitation and uninterrupted power supply for the festival. Sources said there would be 40-hour uninterrupted power supply from Saturday evening to Monday morning in view of the festival.
Apart from this, there would be a large posse of security personnel in and around the sensitive Gyanwapi complex on Sunday.
Jawans of the Quick Reaction Force and commandos of Central security forces would be deployed at sensitive points of the complex.