JEYPORE : Over a lakh devotees from Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh offered prayers at the caved shrine of Gupteswar in Ramgiri forest under Boipariguda block.
After taking a holy dip in river Saveri also known as Pataliganga, devotees offered prayers in the cave temple, situated at a height of 1,000 metres. The Shiva Linga here is eight-ft high.
Flow of devotees began early in the morning and continued till late in the night. People waited for the Mahadeepa to be raised atop the shrine to break their fast.
The festival was also a special occasion for tribals of the district who gathered in large numbers at Gupteswar. Wearing traditional costumes, Darua, Kondh, Bonda, Paraja, Bhumiya, Gond and Saura tribals took part in the Shivaratri Mela that was organised below the shrine. A tribal haat was organised where the tribals sold minor forest produce.
Malkangiri: Thousands of devotees thronged Shiva temples across the district on Maha Shivaratri on Friday. Long queues were seen outside all Shiva shrines in the district while Mallikeswar temple situated atop a hill on the outskrits of the town was a major crowd puller.