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Devotees, including hundreds of sadhus, have flocked to Pashupatinath temple from across Nepal and India to celebrate Mahashivaratri tomorrow.
According to Gauri Shankar Parajuli, deputy director of the Pashupati Area Development Trust, around 1,100 sadhus had arrived from India in the Pashupati area till today. "They will be taken care of during their stay and will be given a warm send-off when they decide to leave," he told THT.
Parajuli said Jagadguru Nischalananda Shankaracharya of the Purvamnaya Sri Govardhana Peetham of Puri, Odisha, will visit the temple tomorrow for the first time to celebrate Shivaratri.
Baba Ganesh aka Doctor Baba is among scores of sadhus who have already arrived in the capital. He came here a few days ago from Kashi in India. The 42-year-old, whohas been here many times before to celebrate Shivaratri, said, "I come here on Shivaratri to collect money from devotees. I will sing bhajans, worship Shiva, and smoke marijuana before I go home." He claimed that he would donate nearly 80 per cent of his collection to the needy.
Rabi Chandan Baba, 63, from Karnataka is here to celebrate Shivaratri for the first time. "I'll meditate, and bless devotees."
Hari Das Baba, 70, has been a devotee of Shiva since he was a child and is here from Vrindavan to celebrate the festival. "Like in previous years, I will fast and perform jagraam (staying awake all night)," said the sadhu.
A couple - Swami Dhyan Salil and Maa Dhyan Priya - who were strolling around the Pashupati area a day before Mahashivaratri feel mesmerised by the vibrant atmosphere here.
Priya, 25 said, "The charm of Shivaratri is during the night." To this, 32-year old Salil added, "We experience a sense of vitality that elevates our spirits here. Shivaratri here is made special by a number of factors, including bhandara (free vegetarian meal), fairs, and gathering of devotees."
Ajay Nath Pant Baba, 27, from Nepalgunj, says serving bhandara to devotees is what 'fulfils my soul'.
Not just the sadhus, the festival is equally enjoyed by other devotees.
Yogesh Pradhan, 24, from Siliguri, is one such devotee who landed in the capital yesterday to celebrate Shivaratri.
He said he had come to celebrate the festival for the second time. "The spiritual power of Pashupatinath temple gives me positive energy."
Chandan Mandal, 19, is here from Bardibas to fulfil a wish he had since childhood.
He said he wanted to 'seek Shiva's blessings' before he left for Qatar.
Shakti Pandey, 26, who arrived from Bhairahawa yesterday, is fascinated by the festivities. "It's a visual treat, especially at night."
However, 20-year-old Kripa Rai from Kapan, was on the temple premises today to donate food and money to sadhus. "I feel good doing so," she told THT.
Alina Karki, 19, from Maharajgunj will be at the temple for "an all-night vigil' tomorrow.
US citizen Richal Astar, 32, who 'happened to be in Nepal' on the festive occasion, was surprised to see the crowd of devotees in the Pashupati area even a day prior to Shivratri. "I'll celebrate Shivaratri for the first time and try to comprehend why people are so devoted to Lord Shiva," she said.
The doors of the Pashupatinath temple will open at 2:30am on February 18, said Parajuli, adding that the PADT was prepared to handle the rush of devotees.
Around 1.6 million devotees are expected to visit the Pashupati tomorrow, according to Barun Khatiwada, a PADT staff member.