2,500 Police Deployed at Pashupatinath as Teej Crowds Surge

Authorities have tightened security around Pashupatinath Temple for Haritalika Teej with a large-scale deployment of 2,500 police personnel. The move is aimed at keeping crowds safe, easing movement, and preventing disorder as thousands of devotees gather at one of Nepal’s most important religious sites.

The District Police Range Kathmandu and the Valley Traffic Police Office have set up a command post and introduced a special traffic management plan to handle the expected surge in visitors. Police will operate in two shifts, with each shift led by a Deputy Superintendent of Police to maintain order throughout the festival period.

Major security buildup around the temple

The security plan is designed to cover the temple premises and the surrounding area, where crowd pressure typically increases sharply during Teej. With women devotees forming the majority of worshippers on this day, the deployment is intended to support safe entry, organized movement, and quicker response to any disturbance.

Police presence will be visible across key access points, while the command post will coordinate operations and monitor the flow of people and vehicles. The goal is to reduce bottlenecks and keep the pilgrimage experience as smooth as possible.

Traffic management for heavy devotee movement

Traffic control is a major part of the operation. Officials have introduced special road management measures to prevent congestion in and around the temple zone, where vehicle movement can become difficult during peak hours.

By directing traffic and managing parking more strictly, authorities hope to keep access routes open for emergency services, local residents, and devotees arriving from different parts of the valley.

Two-shift policing for round-the-clock coverage

The police personnel will work in two shifts so that security remains consistent throughout the day. Each shift will be supervised by a Deputy Superintendent of Police, allowing for more structured command and faster decision-making on the ground.

This layered approach reflects the scale of the crowd and the importance of maintaining both safety and order during a festival that draws intense public participation.

What this means for devotees

For visitors, the expanded deployment should mean stronger crowd control, better traffic flow, and more visible support from security forces. The arrangement also signals how seriously authorities are treating the annual influx at Pashupatinath, where devotional energy and crowd density often peak at the same time.

With a command post, shift-based policing, and traffic controls in place, the festival is set to be managed with a significantly more coordinated security posture than a typical day at the temple.