KATHMANDU, NEPAL, December 14, 2020 (Nepal 24 Hours): Atonement worship is to be offered at the Pashupatinath Temple tomorrow morning, seeking forgiveness as the shrine had to be shut to the devotees for nine months over the risk of coronavirus infection. Entry of devotees inside the temple, which was continued on a regular basis since ancient time, was forbidden in view of the risk of the global coronavirus pandemic. The Pashupatinath Temple is to be opened to the devotees from Wednesday by adopting health safety protocols, said Dr Pradip Dhakal, member-secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT). In the initial period from Wednesday (December 16), the devotees would be allowed entry from the western gate and they will have to exit from the same gate after offering obeisance. They will have to compulsorily wear the face mask.
Although the temple would open from Wednesday, the special puja, singing of hymns and ritual activities, however, would not start immediately. “We were compelled to restrict ourselves during the crisis of the pandemic. We will gradually start operating the special puja, singing of hymns and other rituals that have been suspended by adopting health safety procedures after the temple’s opening on Wednesday,” said Dhakal. Several religious organizations had been carrying out symbolic protests at the Pashupati area under the leadership of the World Hindu Federation, saying the devotees have not been able to visit the temple for worship as it remained closed for nine months.The organizations demanding opening the temple too are preparing to organize a special worship in the Pashupati precincts on Tuesday.
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