Kathmandu, Feb. 15 -- The Mahashivaratri festival is being celebrated across the country today. Falling on Falgun Krishna Chaturdashi-the fourteenth day of the first half of the lunar month of Falgun-the day is considered highly auspicious for Lord Shiva.

From early morning, devotees have been taking ritual baths in rivers and ponds, visiting Shiva temples, and offering prayers.

For the festival, the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has opened all four gates of Pashupatinath temple since 2:00 am. Last year, more than one million devotees visited the temple area.

This year, PADT has arranged three external entry lines for worshippers. Two lines enter through the south gate-from Mitrapark to Gaurighat and from Battisputali-Gaushal...