Devotees at Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Feb. 27: Lakhs of devotees defied the scorching sun and thronged to the 11th century shrine of Lord Lingaraj at Old Town on the occasion of annual Mahashivratri festival.

Around three lakh devotees gathered at the temple this evening to see the mahadeep, the gigantic lamp.

People had queued up in front of the temple from midnight to have a glimpse of the Lord and offer their prayers. The temple administration had planned to open the temple half an hour earlier than the usual time of 4am for public viewing (shahanmela darshan). As soon as the temple was opened, the number of devotees increased around the temple. The shahanmela darshan continued till 11am and the temple reopened at 3pm for public viewing. Despite the hot sun, the devotees were seen waiting till the temple reopened.

The officials had made every possible effort for the rituals to be carried out on time.

“We had planned to carry out the rituals on time and thus, the co-ordination among the groups of nijogs was chalked out well,” said a temple official.

Devotees, who fast all day, end their fasts after seeing the mahadeep being lifted to the top of the temple at night.

Expecting a huge gathering of crowd, the temple administration had erected barricades inside the temple premises and had arranged spots where people could light small lamps.

“I have come from Dhenkanal to offer prayer to Lord Shiv here. Though Mahashivratri is celebrated in large scale at the Kapilash temple in my district, I preferred to visit Lord Lingaraj this time,” said Tathagat Sahu, a devotee.

Devotees from Bhubaneswar and Cuttack as well as those from Berhampur, Koraput, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Keonjhar in the state and some from Calcutta also visit Lingaraj temple on this occasion.

Even foreign tourists were seen enjoying the festive fervour in the Old Town area.

“The festive fervour here is outstanding. The spirit and spirituality of people makes one feel the divinity,” said Sandra from the US.