Devotees Flock to Pashupatinath and Shiva Temples on First Monday of Saun

Kathmandu. On the first Monday of Saun this year, a crowd of devotees has gathered at Pashupatinath and Shiva temples across the country since early this morning.

The four gates of Pashupatinath temple have been opened since 3:00 AM, informed Tirth Shrestha, member secretary of the Pashupati Area Development Trust. Devotees have been coming to the temple for darshan since early morning, disregarding the Saune drizzle.

Arrangements have been made for the smooth, safe, and organized darshan and special puja for the devotees coming to Pashupatinath. Member Secretary Shrestha admitted that work could not be done as needed due to the delay in the appointment of officials and the lack of manpower in the trust.

To make the darshan management more effective, safe, and organized, special services and participation from all officials and employees of the trust, as well as the temple guard, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, Nepali Army, traffic police, Kathmandu Metropolitan Police, and various religious and social organizations will be present. Preparations have been made to facilitate darshan and puja for millions of devotees in a smooth and dignified environment.

The four gates of the temple, which opened at 3:00 AM, will remain open for devotees until 8:00 PM after the evening aarti. Special puja will be held only from 8:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Four queues have been arranged for entry into the temple. Although devotees have been arriving since early morning, the queues have not been very long, according to the trust.

All essential arrangements, including first aid, have been made for the visitors in the Pashupati area. Along with Pashupatinath, devotees have been queuing at all small and large Shiva temples in the capital, including Gokarneshwor, Nageshwor, Dolleshwor, and Makhan Mahadev, known as the small Pashupatinath in Basantapur Durbar Square. Similarly, devotees have also gone to various Shiva temples across the country for puja, worship, and darshan.