Maha Deepa placed atop Lingaraj temple ahead of scheduled time

Bhubaneswar: The much awaited moment for the local Shiva devotees – the raising of the Maha Deepa atop the Lingaraj temple- took place at 9.30 pm on Monday amidst mass chanting of Har Har Mahadev, Bom Bom Bhole and Hari Bol.

All the rituals were conducted in time in the presence of heads of three Sevayat Nijogs.

The Maha Deepa was placed atop the temple spire by sevayats who climbed to the apex of the 11th century Shiva shrine, with the support of iron chains.

The Maha Deepa was placed atop the temple’s dadhinauti (temple crown) by Chunara sevayats (a type of temple servitors skilled in the art of fixing of streamers and placing of Maha Deepa atop the temple) who climbed to the apex of the 11th century Shiva shrine, with the support of iron chains.

The placing of the Maha Deepa atop the temple which was earlier scheduled at 10 pm was done half-an-hour before the scheduled time.

The Commissionerate Police has made elaborate arrangement near the temple for a trouble-free darshan to thousands of devotees.