KATHMANDU: Hindus across the nation are celebrating the annual Mahashivaratri festival today, offering prayers and worships to Lord Shiva, the god of the gods.

The festival is observed on the 14th day of the waning moon in the 11th month of the lunar calendar (Phalgun).

On the occasion, the devotees have thronged various Shiva temples to offer worships.

The Pashupatinath Temple has received thousands of visitors on this special day.

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• Pictures from Pashupatinath on Mahashivaratri day

The Pashupati Area Development Trust said all four gates of the temple had been open for devotees from 3:00 am today.

Officials have made arrangements for four routes  — Battisputali-Gaushala-Pinglasthan-Sothern Gate, Airport-Tilganga-Ram Mandir-Eastern Gate, Mitra Park-Gaurighat-Umakinda-Basuki-Northern Gate and Jayabageshwori-Bhuwaneshwori-Westen Gate — for devotees to enter the temple.

It said all preparations for Mahashivaratri were over and informed that over 1.2 million devotees were expected to visit the temple.

The Metropolitan Traffic Police Division has declared Chabahil-Mitra Park-Gaushala-Battisputali, Ratopul-Gaushala and Gaurighat road sections no-go zones for vehicles, except for emergency ones.

Meanwhile, police have stepped up security arrangements in and around Pashupatinath temple for the annual Mahashivaratri festival and warned they would act tough on those indulging in illegal activities, including trading in marijuana, bhang, hashish and alcoholic beverages on the pretext of celebration.

According to the Metropolitan Police Range, Teku, over 6,000 police personnel in uniform and civvies from Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and National Investigation Department have been mobilised to maintain law and order from today.