Lakhs of devotees throng Shivalyas across Gujarat defying terror threat perception

Ahmedabad

Lakhs of devotees today thronged the Shivalayas (shiva temples) across Gujarat including the world-famous Somnath temple, the seat of first among 12 jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva, on the occasion of Mahashivratri defying the threat perception created by the intelligence reports of terrorists from Paksitan having sneaked in to the state for a terror strike.

The Mangalaarti in Somnath temple situated just beside the Indian Ocean in Gir Somnath district was performed early morning amid the chants of Har Har Mahdev and Jai Somnath. The traditional Palkhi yatra was taken out at around 0830 hrs. Amid tight security as a precautionary measure, various cultural programmes including Ras Garba and Dyara slated to be organized in the temple premises on the occasion of Mahashivaratri has already been cancelled in the wake of the terror alert issued by the IB.

In the second Jyotirlinga temple of Nageshwar, situated in the Devbhumi Dwarka district, long queues of the devotees were also seen today.

In Ahmedabad, the commercial capital of the state and the largest city, devotees turned out in large numbers since early morning to perform special puja and Jalabhishek in various shiva temples including Chakulia Mahadev Mandir, Neelkhanth and Kameshwar Mahadev Mandir.

Amid extra vigil and checks in the cities and other parts of the state, large crowds of devotees were seen in various shiva temples of all the cities including Vadodara, Rajkot, Surat, Jamnagar, Patan, Mahesana and other towns and rural areas.

The largest gathering in the five day Bhavnath temple fair in Junagadh district is also being seen today the final day of the traditional annual mela held on the occasion of Shivratri.

– DeshGujarat