BHUBANESWAR/LUCKNOW/VARANASI, February 15, 2026 (mathrubhumi): Hundreds of thousands of devotees thronged major Shiva temples across Odisha and Uttar Pradesh to celebrate Maha Shivaratri with chants, prayers, and elaborate rituals. In Odisha, prominent shrines such as the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, Loknath Temple in Puri, Chandrashekhar Temple at Kapilash, and Dhabaleswar Temple in Cuttack district witnessed massive crowds from early morning, culminating in the late-night Mahadeep ceremony, considered the spiritual highlight of the festival in the state. Temples were decorated with flowers and illuminated with earthen lamps as devotees observed fasts and offered prayers. Authorities enforced tight security and crowd management measures.
In Uttar Pradesh, heavy footfall was reported at major temples, particularly the Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi, where an estimated 1 to 1.5 million devotees were expected. Similar scenes unfolded at the Ramanathaswamy Temple in Rameswaram, where sadhus performed special rituals, and at the Gorakhnath Temple in Gorakhpur, where Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered prayers. Extensive arrangements, including barricading, medical teams, surveillance systems, and help desks, were put in place to ensure smooth darshan. Maha Shivaratri, observed during the Krishna Paksha of Phalgun, commemorates the divine marriage of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati and is marked by night-long vigils, fasting, and devotional offerings.
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