By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 16: Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Tuesday held a forgiveness worship ritual at the Pashupatinath Temple in the presence of President Bidya Devi Bhandari.
Pashupatinath Temple, the biggest Shiva shrine in Nepal, is reopening for devotees from Wednesday after remaining shut for nine months owing to risks of COVID-19.
President Bhandari graced the forgiveness worship as the Head of the State.
Dr. Pradeep Dhakal, member-secretary of PADT, said that after remaining shut for nine months, Pashupatinath Temple is reopening for devotees by strictly adhering to the safety measures such as social distancing.
He said that the western gate would be opened as entry and exit for the devotees.
Face mask is compulsory to enter the temple premises and special puja, singing of hymns and other ritual activities will not be allowed, he said.
Never before in history has the temple remained closed for such a long period of time. It was not reopened even during the holy month of Shrawan, and during the great festivals like Teej, Dashain, Tihar and Chhath due to the fear of coronavirus transmission.
The trust has suffered a loss of around Rs. 450 million in the past nine months, said Dr. Milan Kumar Thapa, treasurer of the PADT.
The temple will not remain open from morning to evening like in the past; it will be opened from 6.00 am to 11.00 am in the morning, he said.