Modi performs special puja at Pashupatinath Temple

KATHMANDU, May 12: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi performed a special puja and paid homage to Lord Pashupatinath at the Pashupatinath Temple, the center of faith for the Hindus, at the Pashupat area here today. He is on a two-day State Visit to Nepal.

Modi arrived at Pashupatinath after visiting Muktinath in Mustang district where he offered special puja in the morning.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari, who is also the Chair of the Pashupati Area Development Trust Board of Directors, received the visiting Indian dignitary in the premises of the Pashupatinath Temple.

Member-secretary of the PADT Dr Pradip Dhakal, treasurer Dr Milan Kumar Thapa, the members of the PADT Board of Directors, PADT staffers and the devotees of Pashupatinath were also there to welcome the Indian Prime Minister.

Modi spent 50 minutes in performing the worship and participating in the religious rituals in the temple. One hundred and eight Brahmin batuks from Nepal Ved Vidhyashram welcomed PM Modi inside the main temple, chanting the vedic hymns.

On the occasion, Modi paid homage at the shrines inside the Pashupati complex as per the Pashupati Darshan rituals and performed the special puja along with the vedic rudraabhishek at the main temple. The main priest of the temple, Ganesh Bhatta, conducted the special puja.

The Pashupati area was cleaned, a welcome gate constructed and other preparations had been made for welcoming the Indian dignitary.

Culture Minister Adhikari, talking briefly to the media persons, said the Indian Prime Minister performed special worship in the temple premises.

Modi had performed special puja along with the rudrabhishek rituals at Pashupatinath temple on August 3, 2014. That time he had announced an assistance of 250 million Indian rupees for the renovation of the main temple and 50 million Indian rupees additional assistance for cleaning the temple premises.

Photo: Mukunda Kalikote