Nepal: long queues of devotees to enter Pashupatinath Temple's main complex on Mahashivaratri

Today i.e. on February 18, the devotees of Bholenath are performing Jalabhishek in Shivalaya. India's neighboring country Nepal's Pashupatinath Temple is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. There are long queues of devotees to enter this world famous temple complex. Devotees waiting for their turn to have darshan of Lord Bholenath on Mahashivaratri are standing in long and zigzag lines. 

The doors of the temple opened from three o'clock in the morning

In view of the possibility of a huge crowd of devotees on Shivratri, the Pashupati Kshetra Vikas Nyas had opened all the four gates of the temple from 3 am on Saturday. People are standing in a long line of three outside and five inside waiting for their turn to allow the devotees to reach the main temple. 

5 thousand security personnel are handling the system

Arrangements were made in advance to handle the rush of devotees visiting the Pashupatinath temple for worship and darshan. About 5,000 security personnel and 4,000 volunteers have been deployed for this. Health camps have also been set up in the Pashupatinath temple complex. 

Pashupatinath is the lord of all living beings

According to the lunar calendar, the festival of Mahashivaratri is celebrated on the Chaturdashi of Krishna Paksha of Phalgun month. Pashupatinath, a Hindu pilgrimage site in Kathmandu, is thronged by thousands of devotees.

Govinda Sharan Upadhyay, a Vedic lecturer, explained that Lord Pashupatinath is the master of all living beings. All the creatures that come in the bondage of birth and death are considered as animals and their master is 'Pashupatinath'.

Shivratri is worshiped at six different times

Lord Shiva is worshiped in six different time periods on Shivratri. During that time people chant Rudrabhishek and Mahamrityunjaya. Devotees sing hymns of Bholenath, give donations and perform rituals. People fast for the whole day without eating anything. Some eat fruits and those with special conditions eat foods. Everyone comes to the temple to worship Lord Pashupatinath. 

Shivratri is considered to be the favorite day of Lord Shiva. It is believed that worshiping Lord Shiva on this day removes all the sorrows of life. Praying on this day brings peace and prosperity in life. Some people fast during the day and wake up at night celebrating Shiva.

Classical dances are held in Kailashkut and  Kirateshwor

People perform havan at home, in public squares and in temples, sing hymns and take offerings on the occasion. Classical dances are performed at Kailashkoot and Kirteshwar in Pashupati region in Kathmandu.

According to the Nepal Panchang Determination Committee, Brahma took the form of Shiva in the midnight of Krishna Chaturdashi of Phalgun. That's why devotees go to the temples of Lord Shiva for prayer, worship and darshan on this day. 

Hundreds of saints have arrived from India to visit

Apart from devotees, hundreds of sadhus from different parts of Nepal and India have arrived at the Pashupatinath temple. They have camped at various places around the temple. Here they are engrossed in the worship of Shiva by lighting a bonfire.