The festival of Mahashivratri is celebrated with much fanfare in Bhubaneswar. Locals and visitors throng the Shiva temples of the city on this day. There's an air of celebration at the Lingaraj Temple, which sees thousands of devotees visiting its sacred expanse to mark the occasion. Devotees fast on this day and the queues outside the temple can be as long as 1 km! A lot of devotees join the queues as early as 2 am. The festival is celebrated at more than 200 Shiva shrines across Bhubaneswar. Pravachan (discourse) and bhajan (devotional song) stalls are installed near most temples and add to the devotional atmosphere that pervades the city. The devotees who fast during this festival generally break it at 10 or 11 pm.

Other Attractions in Bhubaneswar