May festival fill all with joy, peace & health: CM greets people on Shivratri

Lucknow: Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath wished people on Mahashivratri, describing the festival dedicated to Lord Shiva as celebration of devotion, penance, welfare and self-uplift, strengthening power of ‘dharma', truth and righteousness in public life."The sacred message of Mahashivratri inspires us to move firmly on the path of duty, restraint, compassion and public welfare," he said.
The CM said that on Sunday lakhs of Shiva devotees would head to major Shiva temples across the state, including Shri Kashi Vishwanath Dham, Gola Gokarnath in Lakhimpur Kheri, Lodheshwarnath in Barabanki, Jharkhandi Mahadev, Munjeshwarnath and Mukteshwarnath in Gorakhpur, Shri Markandey Mahadev in Kaithi, Shri Tameshwarnath in Sant Kabir Nagar, Dugdheshwarnath in Ghaziabad, Baba Augharnath in Meerut, Shri Nageshwarnath in Ayodhya and Bateshwar Mahadev in Agra. Expecting massive footfall at these temples, he said govt had put in place comprehensive arrangements to ensure security and smooth movement of devotees.He directed administrative and police officers to ensure necessary services, including cleanliness, crowd management, traffic control, medical assistance, drinking water and lighting arrangements at all Shiva temples."I am confident this sacred festival of Mahashivratri will spread peace, harmony, prosperity and positive energy throughout the state. I urge devotees to follow their religious traditions with cleanliness, discipline and sensitivity and further strengthen the tradition of social harmony and collective responsibility," the CM said, adding that with the blessings of Lord Shiva, UP would move forward on the path of development."