Mahashivratri holds special significance among the various festivals traditionally celebrated in the Pashupati region, where the revered deity Lord Pashupatinath is enshrined. This year, Mahashivratri falls on Saturday, February 18, 203. On this occasion, not only Sanatan Hindus from Nepal but also from all over the world visit Pashupatinath.
As part of the Mahashivratri festival, a program has been arranged to impart knowledge about Vedic mathematics to university students and professors. The program will take place from February 17 to 19, starting from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Peethadhishwara Shankaracharya Swami Nishchalananda Saraswatiji Maharaj from Govardhan Math in Jagannathpuri, who is also a scholar of Vedic mathematics, is scheduled to come and give special sermons and blessings until 12:00 pm. From 5 to 7 pm, scientists, researchers, professors, and students from Tribhuvan University, Nepal Sanskrit University, and Kathmandu University will give educational knowledge about foreign mathematics.
The spokesperson for the Pashupati Area Development Fund, Revathiraman Adhikari, explained that during his visit to Nepal, the Shankaracharya will provide knowledge on various topics related to the Mahashivratri festival, Jatra, as well as spirituality, Vedas, rituals, culture, humanity, and Vedic mathematics. The evening time will be spent mainly in educational interaction.
The management of the Mahashivratri festival and the Shankaracharya program has been allocated 8 million and 5 million Nepalese rupees, respectively. The fund has been discussed with the vice-chancellor, teachers, students, and professors of the universities to prepare for the management of the event. Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa, the member secretary of the fund, said that around 1.6 million devotees from home and abroad are expected to visit the Pashupati fair this year. To manage the fair, 8 sub-committees have been formed under the main committee. The sub-committees will manage the security and the arrangements for welcoming and congratulating Jagadguru Shankaracharya. The Mahashivratri festival will be managed by mobilizing security personnel, including Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and National Investigation Department.
Sanatan Hindu devotees from Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Sri Lanka, and other countries are expected to come to the Pashupati area on Shivaratri. This year, special puja will be performed only during the afternoon, with 50 pujas scheduled to take place. The fund believes that this will help reduce the crowd. The worshiping can be done by obtaining a receipt of 15,000 Nepalese rupees.
Festival