Maha Shivaratri in Kathmandu

Devotees throng Pashupatinath Temple and other temples dedicated to Lord Shiva across the country on Sunday, February 15, as Hindus worldwide celebrate Maha Shivaratri. From early morning, the Pashupati area witnesses a surge of worshippers, filling the sacred complex with prayers, chants, and ritual offerings.

Observed on Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi — the fourteenth day of the waning moon in the Nepali month of Falgun — the festival is regarded as the most auspicious day for the worship of Lord Shiva, revered in Hindu mythology as the cosmic dancer and destroyer.

Ascetics, including Naga sadhus, who gather at Pashupatinath for the festival remain a major attraction. Special rituals such as Rudrabhishek and continuous devotional singing add to the intense spiritual atmosphere within the temple premises.

Elsewhere in the capital, the Shiva temple in Makhan, Kathmandu — popularly known as ‘Sano Pashupati’ — also sees large crowds of devotees lining up since early morning to offer prayers and seek blessings.