Click to play videoBhubaneshwar: The Lingaraj temple in Bhubaneswar is a big tourist attraction in the city. Thousands flock to the temple during Shivaratri.
Devotees start queuing up from 3:00 am (IST) in the morning and the line is almost a mile long.
"Lingaraj means king of all shiva lingas and hence this temple has special significance. People come in large numbers to have darshan of this special deity,” says Priest, Lingaraj Temple, Kamalakanta Badapanda.
And all is done in the hope that the darshan will make the wishes come true.
"I definitely have a wish but I won't disclose it. I am sure Lord Shiva will fulfill it. Today I won't leave without His darshan,” says a devotee, Bijayti Patnaik.
The mahadeep ritual at night marks a high point of the festival, as this is when the holy lamp or diya is placed at the top of the temple for all the devotees to see.
The Lingaraj temple is also one of the few temples in eastern India where the biggest congregation of devotees gathers on the occasion of the Shivratri.
Devotees have to stand for hours to have a darshan of the Lord but no one seems to complain. That is the devotion they have for lord Shiva.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
TOP NEWS
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
