India's ancient Srimukhalingeswara Swamy temple is set to celebrate Maha Shivaratri on February 15, Sunday. Around 50,000 devotees are expected to visit. They will begin by taking a holy bath in the nearby Vamsadhara river before offering special prayers. The temple, known as Dakshina Kasi or South India's Varanasi, was built in the 8th century during the Eastern Ganga dynasty. It wore a festive look ahead of the celebrations. Pilgrims from Odisha will also visit the temple. The temple head priest, Naidugari Rajasekhar, invited the temple trustee Kalyani Gajapathi from Parlakhemundi, Odisha, who ordered full arrangements for smooth darshan. Other temples like Endala Mallikarjuna Swamy in Ravivalasa, Umarudra Koteswara Alayaram, and Shiva Balaji temple in Srikakulam will see a large crowd on the holy day. APSRTC will run 40 special bus services to Shiva temples. Collector Swapnil Dinakar Pundkar and officials reviewed preparations to avoid problems like the stampede at Lord Venkateswara temple in Kasibugga last November. Mr. Pundkar said, "All the concerned departments must coordinate with each other to ensure devotees have a hassle-free darshan of the presiding deities in the temples."