Mahashivaratri being observed today – The Himalayan Times

The Kathmandu District Administration Office has imposed a ban on the production, sale, purchase, transportation, storage and consumption of liquor, meat, marijuana and other psychoactive substances on the Pashupatinath temple premises during the Mahashivaratri festival.

Chief District Officer of Kathmandu, Ram Krishna Subedi, said a notice to this effect was issued to maintain religious sanctity of the holy site of Hindus.

A Hindu Sadhu lights a smoke as people take photos on the occasion of Mahashivaratri inside the Pashupatinath Temple premise in Kathmandu, Nepal on Monday, March 7, 2016. Photo: Skanda Gautam/ THT

“Anyone who acts in contravention of this notice will liable to the legal action under the Local Administration Act,” he said.

The areas from Gaushala to Mitrapark, eastern to western boundary of the temple, Tilganga and Mitrapark, Umakunda, Gaurighat and southern corner of the Bagmati River have been declared prohibited zone for such activities. No vehicles other than those belonging to media persons and VIPs bearing special passes will be allowed in these areas.A Hindu Sadhu (face unseen) rolls marijuana inside the Pashupatinath Temple premise in Kathmandu, Nepal on Monday, March 7, 2016. Photo: Skanda Gautam/ THT

The Pashupati Area Development Trust has said that it is expecting to host around 1.1 million devotees tomorrow.

According to the PADT, all four doors of the temple will be opened from 3:00 am. Necessary arrangements have been made for devotees to enter the main temple premises through Battisputali-Gushala, Tilganga, Mitrapark-Gaurighat-Umakunda-Rudragadeshwor-Basuki and Jayabageshwori.

The devotees will have to exist from the same door used for entering the main temple premises.

A Hindu Sadhu poses for a photograph inside the Pashupatinath Temple premise in Kathmandu, Nepal on Monday, March 7, 2016. Photo: Skanda Gautam/ THT

Around 8,000 security personnel, both in uniform and civvies, have already been deployed in and around the Pashupati area to maintain law and order.

Plainclothes cops have been keeping vigil on suspects to prevent the sale, distribution and consumption of marijuana.