The sacred Mahadeep was raised atop the iconic Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar one and a half hours ahead of schedule during Mahashivratri celebrations, marking a smooth and orderly ritual completion.
Originally fixed for 10 PM, the hoisting was completed earlier due to seamless coordination between temple servitors and the city administration. All preceding rituals, including Sahana Mela darshan, four prahar puja, Harihar Bhet, Badasinghar Besh, and Pahud Niti, were conducted in a disciplined manner.
As the giant lamp illuminated the temple spire, thousands of devotees erupted in chants of “Har Har Mahadev,” filling the Ekamra Kshetra with devotion. Many who had observed day-long fasts broke their vrata upon witnessing the Mahadeep.The crowd grew steadily through the night, with devotees lighting lamps across the temple premises.
To ensure safety, 40 platoons of police were deployed, supported by three DCP-rank officers, six additional DCPs, and over 200 personnel stationed at all gates. Fire safety officials maintained strict vigilance, especially in lamp-lighting areas. Traffic was managed with eight dedicated platoons, check gates, and designated parking zones.Bhubaneswar DCP Jagmohan Meena praised the peaceful conduct while urging caution during lamp lighting.However, some devotees voiced frustration over long queues, with several reporting waits exceeding 10 hours without darshan, citing crowd management challenges.
Overall, the early completion of the key ritual was hailed as a success due to proactive planning and cooperation.
