Deputy Commissioner (DC) Srinagar, Akshay Labroo, on Saturday along with SSP Traffic Police, Aijaz Ahmad Bhat visited the Shankaracharya Temple to review and finalize arrangements for the upcoming festival of Mahashivratri, scheduled to be celebrated on February 14th & 15th, 2026.
The festival holds immense religious and cultural significance and is observed with great devotion, particularly by the Kashmiri Pandit community. Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar, Mir Imtiyaz Ul Aziz; Joint Commissioner SMC, Nuzhat Khurshid; Chief Planning Officer, Fayaz Ahmad Dar; Chief Medical Officer, Dr Tahir Sajad; Executive Engineers of PHE R&B, KPDCL, Tehsildar South, Tehsildar Khanyar, Chief Sanitation Officer and other concerned, besides, Additional Secretary Dharmarth Trust, Avisash Fotedar and Vidhu Sharma accompanied the DC during the visit.
While reviewing the arrangements on the spot, the DC directed the concerned departments to ensure that all basic facilities are put in place well in advance for the devotees expected to visit the historic Shankaracharya Temple . He asked the officers of the line departments to ensure all necessary arrangements for a smooth, safe, and enriching pilgrimage experience for the devotees on this auspicious occasion.
The DC instructed for ensuring hassle-free traffic movement for the devotees, besides adequate facilities at the designated place for parking of the vehicles. He also stressed for adequate shuttle bus services to ferry devotees from different parts of the city to the Shankaracharya Temple on Mahashivratri .
Stressing the importance of cleanliness, the DC directed the SMC authorities to ensure proper sanitation and hygiene at the Shankaracharya Temple premises and along the entire pilgrimage route. He also instructed for adequate arrangements for urinals and sanitation facilities.
Additionally, he asked for ensuring all streetlights from Nehru Park to the Temple are made functional. The DC further directed for ensuring uninterrupted supply of electricity and adequate drinking water facility at the venue so that Yatris do not face any inconvenience during their visit
The DC directed for ensuring uninterrupted power supply and adequate drinking water facilities at the venue so that devotees do not face any inconvenience during their visit to pay obeisance at the Temple. The DC also directed the Health Department to deploy a Medical team at the venue with the availability of all emergency medicines and first aid facilities.
The DC directed the officers of the line departments to ensure all necessary arrangements required for smooth stay and enriching pilgrimage for all devotees on this religious occasion. On the occasion, the DC interacted with members of the Dharmarth Trust and organising committee of Bhandara, assuring them of full support from the District Administration for smooth celebrations of Mahashivratri at Shankracharya, Srinagar.