2 million devotees estimate to visit Pashupati on Mahashivaratri

KATHMANDU, Feb 16: On the occasion of Shiva ratri, two million devotees will come to see the Pashupatinath temple, according to the Pashupati Area Development Trust.

While informing about the preparation of Shiva ratri in a press conference on Wednesday, the fund has estimated that about two million religious tourists will come on Shiva ratri. The trust said that other management including traffic safety will be done in coordination with the state organs.

Similarly, no logos, leaflets or banners can be carried in the Pashupati area except for the trust. According to the trust, the trust has been campaigning under various names of volunteers and support, but this will not be the case from this year.

The trust has claimed that the security arrangements are tight as the President himself is scheduled to visit Pashupatinath in Shiva ratri.

The trust has said that 80 lakhs have been allocated for Shiva ratri and will publish the expenditure details by the middle of February. The trust has informed that 8 million expenses for Shiva ratri will be from internal funds.