Himalayan News Service

Diktel, March 8:

About 30,000 pilgrims flocked the Halesi Mahadev temple in Khotang, dubbed the Pashupatinath of the east, on the occasion of Shivaratri, a pilgrim, Ramesh Basnet, said.

The number is the highest in three years. Till four years back, millions of visitors used to visit the Haleshi Mahadev temple during Shivaratri and other times, but the number had been decreasing due to the escalating conflict. Local businessmen are glad to see a good number of pilgrims during the Shivaratri fair.