The Mahashivaratri festival is being celebrated across the country today. Falling on Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi—the fourteenth day of the first half of the lunar month of Falgun—the day is considered highly auspicious for Lord Shiva.

From early morning, devotees have been taking ritual baths in rivers and ponds, visiting Shiva temples, and offering prayers.

For the festival, the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has opened all four gates of Pashupatinath temple since 2:00 am. Last year, more than one million devotees visited the temple area.

This year, PADT has arranged three external entry lines for worshippers. Two lines enter through the south gate—from Mitrapark to Gaurighat and from Battisputali–Gaushala, Tribhuvan International Airport–Tilganga, and Pingalasthan–Sumargi Bhawan via Panchdeval temples. A west-side line has been arranged from the footwear area via Banikali slope, with an additional line towards Tilganga Rammandir if needed.

Inside the temple, three internal lines from the north and south and four from the west are being managed. Parking facilities have been organised at Sifal, Tilganga, beyond Guheshwari, the PADT office, and Banakali.

Alongside Pashupatinath, devotees are gathering at other Shiva temples in the valley, including Gokarneshwor and Dolewhar, as well as at Shiva temples outside Kathmandu.