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

Kathmandu. The Gutthi Sansthan and the Pashupati Area Development Trust have bid farewell to the ascetics, including 2,200 Naga Babas, who came to worship, revere, and have darshan of Pashupatinath on the occasion of Mahashivaratri.

Shaileshraj Kunwar, administrator of the Sansthan, informed that a total of Rs 2.25 million in cash was given as Dakshina (offering) to the 2,200 ascetics including Naga Babas. The Trust also gave half of the Dakshina it provided to bid farewell to these ascetics. It is reported that the Trust gave Rs 1.125 million as Dakshina to the ascetics including the Naga Babas.

The farewell ceremony began at the west gate in front of the Pashupatinath temple from 11 AM on Tuesday. Janak Pokhrel, spokesperson for the Sansthan, informed RSS that the ascetics, including Naga Babas who came from various Akharas in Nepal and India, were bid farewell with Dakshina ranging from Rs 551 to Rs 11,000.

Although it is estimated that more than four thousand such ascetics came to the Pashupati area and Thapathali area, 2,200 were bid farewell in the first phase today, and it has been stated that the remaining ascetics will also be bid farewell.

It has been a tradition every year to bid farewell to the ascetics, including Naga Babas, who came for worship, reverence, and darshan of Pashupatinath during Mahashivaratri on the day of Falgun Krishna Aunsi. Subhashchandra Joshi, Executive Director and Spokesperson, stated that the Trust added half the amount of the Dakshina provided by the Sansthan to bid farewell to the ascetics including the Naga Babas.

During Mahashivaratri, the Trust has a practice of providing food, lodging, and firewood for lighting fires (Dhuni) to the ascetics, including Naga Babas, from Falgun Krishna Ekadashi until Aunsi. The Sansthan stated that the materials given today while bidding farewell to the ascetics including Naga Babas included a set of lota (water pot), chammar (fly-whisk), ghanti (bell), raadi (blanket), along with Dakshina, totaling 21 items, which were pledged by President Ramchandra Paudel on Falgun Krishna Ekadashi.