KATHMANDU: Mahashivaratri, a Hindu festival is being observed with the worship of Lord Shiva across the nation on Friday.

Hundreds of thousands of devotees have thronged the Pashupatinath temple, in the capital since early morning. Four of the doors the main temple have been opened for the occasion.

Minister for Culture, Constituent Assembly and Parliamentary Affairs Dr Minendra Rijal offered a pooja and inspected all the arrangements today. He is also co-chairman of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT).

According to the PADT, those devotees who wish to offer prayers without having to queue up, can buy tickets worth Rs 1,000. However ordinary people will not have to pay anything for the visit.

Nearly half a million visitors, devotees and sages are expected to visit the temple. Hundreds of sadhus, naga babas and sages have already poured in from different parts of the country and neighbouring India.

Likewise, President Dr Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to pay a visit to the temple in the evening.