On the occasion of Maha Shivaratri, devotees will have the opportunity to perform a special evening worship at Pashupatinath Temple. The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has made arrangements for this special worship, which requires a fee of NPR 15,100.
Special Worship and Its Offerings
Rajkumar Khatri, a member of the PADT Council and coordinator of the publicity subcommittee, shared that devotees who opt for this special worship can complete their prayers within an hour without waiting in long queues.
According to Khatri, the special worship will start at 7 PM on Shivaratri evening and will include Panchamrit (a sacred mixture of five ingredients). Unlike previous years, where multiple types of special worship were available, this year, only one type—Panchamrit Special Worship—has been arranged.
For those offering more than NPR 15,000, additional rituals such as lighting a lakhbatti (a large number of oil lamps), Rudrabhishek, Havan, and Panchamrit Puja will be available.
How to Participate?
To participate in the special worship, devotees must visit the SBI Bank located on the western side of Pashupatinath Temple and pay NPR 15,100 to receive a voucher. This year, only 200 people will be allowed to participate in the special worship due to limited arrangements.
Timings of Special Worship
The worship will begin at 7 PM and will be conducted in four phases:
- First phase: 7 PM
- Second phase: 9 PM
- Third phase: 12 AM
- Fourth phase: 3 AM
Performing worship during these times is believed to enhance spiritual purity and devotion. Khatri mentioned that evening prayers and meditation during Shivaratri are highly beneficial, and lighting lamps at home during this time is considered auspicious.
Digital Offerings Available
This year, devotees will also have the option to make offerings digitally. PADT has introduced digital payment methods such as eSewa and mobile banking to allow worshippers to donate easily. Khatri stated that this initiative aims to provide a seamless experience for devotees and expects a higher number of visitors compared to the previous year.
Temple Entry and Arrangements
To manage the crowd efficiently, there will be four entry lines outside the temple. Inside, there will be three separate lines at the western and northern gates and two lines each at the eastern and southern gates. PADT has also requested devotees to avoid bringing plastic items as the temple area is a plastic-free zone.
The temple doors will be open for devotees from 2:30 AM on Falgun 14 (February 26) until 6 PM on Falgun 15 (February 27). It is estimated that over 500,000 people will visit the temple during this period.
Preparations for Maha Shivaratri
The government has formed a main organizing committee under the leadership of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Minister Badri Prasad Pandey to oversee the Shivaratri arrangements. Several subcommittees have been working on security, promotions, nighttime arrangements, accommodation, food, and religious programs.
To ensure a smooth experience for devotees, PADT has arranged facilities such as clean restrooms, drinking water, and shoe storage areas. The temple and its surroundings have been decorated with flowers and lights. Special arrangements have also been made for Naga Sadhus (ascetic saints) in the temple’s main area.
Thousands of pilgrims and tourists from neighboring India and other countries are expected to visit Pashupatinath during Maha Shivaratri.
