. The number of devotees and Sadhus has increased at Pashupatinath. Babas have started lighting dhuni in the temple premises and the significant participation of devotees who come to visit Pashupatinath has increased the vibrancy here.

On the eve of Maha Shivaratri, the Pashupatinath temple and its surrounding areas were busy with the arrival of Sadhus and devotees from across the country and abroad. Executive Director and Spokesperson of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), Subhash Joshi, said that around eight hundred thousand devotees are expected to visit the temple during the festival.

“To manage the huge crowd, we have arranged for the darshan through four separate lines,” he said. Special attention has been given to security, health, sanitation and traffic management. All the four gates of the Pashupatinath temple will be opened from 4:00 am today for the convenience of the devotees, said the Pashupati Area Development Trust. Special arrangements will be made for vehicular movement in and around the Pashupatinath area on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.

According to the PADT, a joint team of Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Traffic Police has been mobilized. CCTV cameras and mobile patrolling have been intensified for crowd control, search for missing persons, emergency rescue and surveillance of suspicious activities.

The PADT said pedestrians have been managed around the main entry points to the Pashupatinath area and around the temple premises and a separate route has been determined for emergency vehicles. Spokesperson Joshi said that separate arrangements have been made for senior citizens, people with disabilities and special guests to facilitate the temple. According to him, the number of drinking water, toilets, rest houses and primary health centers has been increased. Coordination has been made with various hospitals and health institutions to provide health services.

The PADT has made arrangements for mobilizing volunteers to provide necessary information, facilitation and guidance to the visitors. Information related to the situation of the crowd and safety has been continuously disseminated through the miking system.

Meanwhile, the Kathmandu District Police Range has further beefed up security in view of the Mahashivaratri festival. Spokesperson of the District Police Range, Superintendent of Police Pawan Kumar Bhattarai said a 13-point request has been issued for the security of the visitors and their belongings.

KATHMANDU: The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has put in place a multi-dimensional plan to make this year’s festival systematic, safe and devotee-friendly. Arrangements have been made for temporary accommodation, food and security for the Sadhus who have come from Nepal and India on the occasion of Mahashivaratri. Discipline has been maintained in the temple premises by making arrangements for their accommodation at the designated place.

The PADT has urged the devotees to stand in queue patiently, help in sanitation and follow the instructions of the security agencies. It is stated that cooperation has been made with all sides to conclude the Maha Shivaratri festival in a peaceful, civilized and well-managed manner.