KATHMANDU, March 5 -- The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) completed all preparations for Mahashivaratri on Friday. During Mahashivaratri, around 700,000 pilgrims visit the Pashupati area every year.

Raju Khatri, the member secretary of the PADT, said that keeping in mind the convenience of general visitors, the 'VIP worship' has been removed this time. He said that this arrangement has been removed based on past experience after complaints were made that ordinary visitors would be inconvenienced when arranging worship for VIPs.

"The PADT has made arrangements to worship Pashupatinath from the Tilganga road in the east," Khatri said, "This time, the devotees who come to worship from all four directions - east, south, Bhubaneswar ...