At least 700,000 Hindu devotees, including 150,000 Indians, are expected to throng the famous Pashupatinath shrine in the Nepalese capital to worship Lord Shiva during Mahashivaratri on February 27.
"We are expecting a big crowd this time as the law and order situation has improved a lot and lots of publicity has been done to attract visitors," said Govinda Tandon, chief of the Pashupati Area Development Committee that manages the fifth century temple's affairs.
Some 300,000 people are expected to get direct access to the temple on the bank of Bagmati river, while around 400,000 will go around the shrine on the day of the festival.
Special arrangements have been made for those wishing to get quick access to the temple by avoiding long queues - they will have to purchase a ticket worth Nepali Rs 1,000 or Indian Rs 625, Tandon said.
Some 5,000 sadhus are expected during the festival and free meals, shelter and other facilities will be arranged for them. Hundreds of Naga Sadhus will also arrive to pray at the temple.
Six Indian singers have been invited to perform devotional songs and dances. Musical programmes will be organised on three consecutive days for the devotees, Tandon said.
A replica of India's Vaishnav Devi temple will be installed at Pashupatinath during the festival.
Drinking water, free meals, medical services and tents will be arranged for the devotees.
More than 3,500 security personnel, including 800 from the Armed Police Force, are being deployed for security.
Preparations are almost complete for the grand festival and dozens of buses packed with devotees have already started arriving in Pashupatinath, Tandon said.
