Huge crowds thronged the Shiva temples across Uttar Pradesh since midnight on the occasion of Maha Shivaratri.
The Kashi Vishwanath Dham in Varanasi and the Mankameshwar temple in Lucknow, in particular, witnessed a massive turnout of devotees on the occasion.
A heavy deployment of police has been made across cities and towns like Varanasi, Barabanki and Baghpat, where Kanwariyas converge in large numbers.
UP Director General of Police (DGP), Prashant Kumar, said that special arrangements have been made along Kanwar routes and at prominent Shiva temples in Varanasi, Lucknow, Barabanki, and Baghpat.