Gutthi Sansthan and Pashupati Area Development Trust Begin Farewell to Sadhus After Mahashivaratri

Kathmandu. The Gutthi Sansthan and the Pashupati Area Development Trust have begun the farewell ceremony for the Naga Babas and other ascetics who came to worship and have darshan of Pashupatinath on the occasion of Mahashivaratri. The farewell started at 11 AM in front of the west gate of the Pashupatinath temple.

Janak Pokharel, spokesperson for the Sansthan, informed that the sadhus, including Naga Babas who arrived from various Akhadas in Nepal and India, are being bid farewell with donations ranging from NPR 551 to NPR 11,000.

He also stated that there are more than four thousand such ascetics in the Pashupati area and the Thapathali area combined. It is a long-standing tradition to bid farewell to the Naga Babas and other sadhus who come for worship, adoration, and darshan of Pashupatinath during Mahashivaratri on the day of Falgun Krishna Aunsi every year.

Executive Director and Spokesperson Subhash Chandra Joshi stated that the Trust will contribute half of the donation amount given by the Sansthan to bid farewell to the Naga Babas and other sadhus. During Mahashivaratri, it is customary for the Trust to provide food, lodging, and firewood for bonfires to the Naga Babas and other sadhus from Falgun Krishna Ekadashi until Aunsi.

The Sansthan also announced that the farewell for the Naga Babas and other sadhus today will include 21 types of items along with the donation, which includes the lota (water pot), chammar (fly-whisk), ghanti (bell), and a set of raadi (woolen blanket) that President Ramchandra Paudel pledged on Falgun Krishna Ekadashi.