By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Feb. 22: Sadhus and saints from different parts of Nepal and India have started arriving in Pashupati area for the upcoming Maha Shivaratri festival.
Thousands of Sadhus from within the country and India visit the Pashupatinath Temple of Kathmandu on the occasion of Shivaratri festival.
The sadhus are now found staying at the Annapurna Rest House, Ram Mandir, Gorkhanath Temple and other shelters of the Pashupati area.

Thousands of sadhus arrive in the Pashupati temple from several parts of India to observe the Shivaratri festival, according to the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT).
This year the festival falls on March 1.

Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa, member secretary of the PADT, said that the sadhus and saints have started entering Pashupati area since last week, and by now around 100 sadhus and saints have been staying on the premises of Ram Mandir, Gorkhanath Temple and in other shelters.

Several social organisations have been providing food to the Sadhus. Logs have been brought to distribute to the sadhus so that they make fire to keep themselves warm.
“The PADT will allow the naga babas (sadhus in nude) to enter the premises of the Pashupatinath Temple from Ekadashi, two days before the Maha Shivaratri festival,” he said.

As per the tradition, the PADT has set aside the north, west and southern parts of the Pashupati premises for the sadhus of different sects.
Several sadhus from six sects like Nath, Aghor, Udashi, Bairagi and Naga visit the Pashupatinath Temple on the occasion of Shivaratri.