KATHMANDU, NEPAL, February 24, 2009: Around four million devotees from within and outside the country visited the revered Hindu temple of Pashupati Nath on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri on Monday.
Devotees had lined up to Old Baneswor and Chabahil to get a chance for worship in the temple from as early as 3 am. Devotees had to stand in line for more than six hours.
About 150 sadhus, less than expected, had come from different parts of India at the Pashupati. Foreigners were also seen dancing to the tunes of Nepali devotional songs. For the first time in the Nepal’s history, President Ram Baran Yadav offered puja as the Head of the State at the temple. President Yadav was welcomed by the devotees with a huge applaud. Most of the TV channels and FM radios were broadcasting the event live from Pashupati.