Pashupatinath Temple opens after four and a half months

KATHMANDU, September 10: The Pashupatinath Temple that was closed for four and a half months for devotees citing the COVID-19 pandemic has been opened for devotees from 5:30 AM today. 

After Nepal was largely hit by the second wave of COVID-19, the main temple of Pashupatinath was closed since April 23.  

“The devotees have thronged the temple to pay homage since early this morning. The temple will remain open only till 1:00 in the afternoon as the risk of COVID-19 still hovers around,”said the administrative officer of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Rewati Raman Adhikari. Devotees who want to visit Pashupatinath temple must wear a face mask. Only 25 devotees will be allowed to enter the temple at a time.

As the temple was closed for more than four months, the PADT on Thursday conducted Chhema or forgiveness Pooja. 

To enter the temple, the devotees have to queue up maintaining physical distance and only 25 devotees are allowed to enter into the temple at a time. The PADT has made arrangements to enter the temple through one door and exit through another. However, the devotees are still restricted to conduct special pooja, according to Executive Director of PADT Dr Ghanshyam Khatiwada.

The Pashupatinath Temple remained closed to devotees for nine months in the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Nepal. (With inputs from RSS)