Bhubaneswar, Feb. 15 -- Thousands of devotees broke their day-long fast after the sacred 'Mahadipa' (gigantic lamp) was lifted atop Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar at around 8.40 PM on Sunday amid chants of 'Om Namah Shivaya' and 'Har Har Mahadev'.

After the Bedha Parikrama rituals wherein servitors move around the temple, the holy lamp was lit, and then the servitors carrying the Mahadipa climbed the 16th-century Shaivite shrine and put the lamp atop the shrine.

With this, the devotees broke their day-long fast. The Mahadipa was lifted at 8.40 PM instead of the scheduled 10.00 PM. The festival was observed in all Shaiva Peethas across the State with religious fervour.

At the Lingaraj Temple in Bhubaneswar, a significant influx of devot...