Over 1 lakh devotees offered prayers at the Pahari Baba temple perched 2,140ft above sea level on Ranchi Hill on Shivratri Monday.

Like every year, Pahari Mandir Vikas Samiti had made elaborate arrangements to ensure peaceful and safe celebrations. As many as 20 CCTV cameras were installed on the temple premises to keep an eye on antisocial elements.

Around 100 volunteers of RSS and the samiti were deputed to assist around 100 policemen responsible for crowd control. Barricades were used to ensure that the devotees reached the hilltop in a single file via an inclined path and stairs on the northern side of main entrance and came down via stairs on the southern side of this hills.

Under the arghya (offering) system, devotees were allowed to do jalabhishek (bathing the deity) from a distance without touching the shivling in the sanctum sanctorum.

As part of the festivities, colourful Shiv barats (processions) were taken out from Shree Radha Krishna Temple, Ratu Road, Gram Vikas Vidyalaya, Tatisilwai, Maha Mrityunjay Mahadev Temple, Hinoo, Railway Protection Force Shiv temple premises, Chutia and from Pahari Baba temple at Irgutoli.

Apart from the big shrines, around 500 small temples of Lord Shiva in the city remained crowded since morning.

Harmu resident Shravan Kumar said he reached the Pahari Baba Temple early in the morning to offer prayers.

“I reached the Pahari Temple around 5.30am to offer prayers. The arrangements were very good,” Kumar said.

SSP Anish Gupta also offered prayers at a temple in police lines on Kanke Road.