Maha Shivaratri is a Hindu festival celebrated in honor of Lord Shiva. It holds a great significance for Hindus all across the world. On this day people from all over the world visits Shiva temple to seek blessings and also they fast all day to worship Lord Shiva as people has a belief that doing so will bestows one with happiness and prosperity. It is celebrated in every lunar-solar month of the Hindu calendar before the arrival of Summer.
In Nepal, Maha Shivaratri is especially celebrated widely in different Shiva temples all around the country but especially in Pashupatinath Temple. People from all around the world especially India comes to Nepal to visit Pashupatinath Temple on this day to worship Lord Shiva. They visit the temple and involve in different religious activities like Bhajan, Kirtan and Puja Path. On this day intake of weed and Marihuana is also made legal and people take these things as a Prasad of Lord Shiva. Devotees chant “Om Namah Shivay” and “Mahamritunjaya” all night praying for light over darkness. Sadhus are heartily welcomed by the government for this day also their stay during this period is looked after by the government of Nepal.
On this auspicious occasion Shree Manav Sewa Foundation, Nepal planned to organize a volunteering program. Volunteering program was planned so as to manage the massive crowd and to distribute water and mask to the crowd for their safety. In coordination with Pashupati Area Development Trust we conducted the volunteering program. Our team reached the destination on 5:40 am on 1st Marcha,2022 and we started making booth for the organization with all the banners and distributing materials. Right after the preparation of booth the team was dispersed as per their roles and duties. Everyone went to manage line as it was the main priority at that moment. Devotees were fighting/discussing as there was unmanaged crowd and people were entering the line randomly. So due to this reason first team worked on that issue which was managing the crowd and not letting people enter in the line randomly. Later the crowd kept on increasing and people were beyond the control which led the team to work as chain so as to manage the excessive crowd. The program was ended at around 6:00 pm. After the completion of the program everyone managed the booth and cleaned the areas around the booth where people threw glasses and papers. After cleaning the booth we settled down all the good and products that belonged to the organization and ended the program on a good note.
