Lakhs of devotees thronged Shiva temples across Odisha on Wednesday to offer prayers on the auspicious occasion of Maha Shivratri. Worshippers gathered at temples from early morning, seeking blessings of Lord Shiva.

To ensure smooth darshan and maintain order, police and temple authorities implemented special security arrangements at major shrines.

Prominent Shiva temples, including the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, Dhabaleswar Temple in Cuttack, Kapilash Temple in Dhenkanal, Akhandalamani Temple in Bhadrak, Chandaneswar Temple in Balasore, Huma Temple in Sambalpur, Loknath Temple in Puri, Harishankar Temple in Bolangir, and Gupteswar Temple in Koraput, witnessed massive footfalls.

The festival was celebrated with great devotion, with devotees observing fasts, performing special rituals, and participating in night-long prayers.