Hindu devotees all over the country celebrated Mahashivaratri by worshipping Lord Shiva at various rivers, ponds and temples.

Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu received over a million devotees from across the country as well as India. Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), the main organiser, opened all the four doors of the temple at 3am to ease the flow of an increasing number of devotees.

Devotees were allowed to enter the main temple premises through Battisputali-Gaushala, Tilganga, Mitrapark-Gaurighat-Umakunda-Rudragadeshwor-Basuki and Jaybageshwori areas.

“It was much easier to reach the temple this year,” said Parvati Niraula of Bagbazaar. The PADT made an arrangement in such a way that devotees could use the same door for entry and exit.

Visitors said they were able to reach the main temple in less than an hour of queuing up.

The temple premises echoed with Shiva’s hymns, while hundreds of foreigners and Nepali youths were seen smoking marijuana with Sadhus, holy men, at Mrigasthali.

Around 8,000 security personnel, both in uniform and civvies, and over 3,500 volunteers were deployed around the temple area.