Festivals Related to the Lingaraja Temple
- The biggest event, Shivaratri, draws tens of thousands of worshipers to the temple each year during Phalgun month.
- On this auspicious day, bel leaves are offered to Lingaraja in addition to a full day of fasting. The greatest festivities occur at night when worshippers pray all through the night. Following the lighting of the Mahadipa on the temple spire, people break their fast. This festival honors Lingaraja’s victory over a demonic enemy.
- Every year on Ashokastami, Lingaraj chariot celebration (Ratha-Yatra) is observed. The god is transported to the Rameshwar Deula shrine in a chariot. Numerous thousands of followers pull chariots with the statues of Lingaraja and his sister Rukmani.
Lingaraj Temple
Lingaraja Temple was built in the eleventh century AD and is considered the biggest attraction of Bhubaneswar in Odisha. It is one of the oldest Hindu temples devoted to the form of Shiva known as Harihara and is the most well-known tourist destination in Odisha. It was constructed using Kalinga architecture which is a sub-class under the Nagara category and is thought to have been built by King Jajati Keshari in the 10th Century and completed by King Lalatendu Keshari in the 11th Century. Later, even the Ganga kings contributed to the construction of this temple. Currently, the Odisha Hindu Religious Endowment Act, 1951, governs the Lingaraja Temple.
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