Culture Ministry Secretary Urges Adherence to Scriptural Norms in Rituals and Astrology Training

Kathmandu. Mukunda Prasad Neupane, Secretary of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, emphasized the need for those working in the fields of rituals (karmakanda) and astrology to adhere to scriptural practices.

Speaking at a certificate distribution ceremony for trainees of the six-month astrology and ritual training organized by the Nepal Panchanga Determining Development Committee, he highlighted instances where professionals in these fields are swayed by temptation and fail to follow established scriptural methods, stressing the importance of adhering to canonical procedures.

“Our culture, traditions, and scriptures hold great significance. They must be modified and refined according to time and circumstances to suit the environment, but they must not be allowed to disappear. Those being certified today have a crucial role in preserving and promoting our original culture. Nepalis living abroad also have a significant need for rituals and astrology; even those who renounce their citizenship to live abroad have not abandoned these practices; they continue to practice their original culture wherever they go,” said Secretary Neupane.

Fifty-four trainees received certificates after completing the six-month 'Astrology and Ritual Training' conducted by the committee. Executive Director of the committee, Acharya Laxman Panthi, stated that 36 trainees specialized in astrology and 18 in rituals.

The committee stated that it has been conducting the training program since 2062 BS with the objective of producing skilled manpower in the crucial and essential fields of astrology and rituals. Committee member Prof. Dr. Devmani Bhattarai, former chairman Prof. Shrikrishna Adhikari, and others emphasized the need for the graduates to apply what they learned in the six-month training into good practice and to seek further knowledge from seniors and gurus for subjects they are yet to master.

Committee Executive Director Panthi drew the attention of Ministry Secretary Neupane to the committee's weak physical and policy infrastructure. He stated that the ministry should provide support, facilitation, and coordination in this regard. Executive Director Panthi also requested support from the ministry for office management, hall, room, and microphone shortages, as well as for the formulation of employee (accounting) procedures and internal policies.

At the program, trainer and Associate Professor at Nepal Sanskrit University's Valmiki Vidyapeeth, Purushottam Bhattarai, noted that the training program has been running continuously despite limited resources. He also mentioned that the demand for 'online' classes has been increasing recently.