Kathmandu, Feb 12 (Inditop.com) Though tens of thousands of devotees lined up at the gates of the revered Pashupatinath temple of Nepal Friday to offer worship on the occasion of Mahashivratri, there was a noticeable dip in the number of Indians, weaned away by the concurrent holy festival in India’s Haridwar city and past Maoist attacks on the Nepal shrine.
The Naga sadhus of India, remarkable for their disdain to wear any clothes despite the biting cold and a perennial draw for pilgrims and tourists, were noticeably fewer in number this year even as the number of Indian pilgrims dropped though the trust running the Pashupatinath shrine said it expected over 600,000 visitors.
Braving the fall in the mercury and an overcast sky, devotees – including men and women in wheelchairs – waited from 2 a.m. to worship the main phallic icon as well as dozens of other gods and goddesses inside the sprawling complex housing dozens of ancient shrines.
According to Hindu mythology, Mahashivratri celebrates the wedding of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati. In Nepal’s Pashupatinath temple, Shiva is worshipped as protector of all animals, including humans.
For the first time in the history of the temple, the Pashupatinath Area Development Trust (PADT), following the system in southern Indian temples, levied an admission fee of NRS 1,000 at the eastern gate to well-heeled pilgrims who wanted to avoid queuing up.
All the four gates of the temple were thrown open to visitors while traffic was prohibited in its vicinity.
Hundreds of volunteers and policemen patrolled the complex that had been dragged into a violent controversy last year after the then Maoist government had tried to sack the Indian priests, who were appointed traditionally to worship the Pashupatinath icon, and appoint Nepali priests in their place.
The row snowballed after Maoist-led crowds attacked two of the Indian priests appointed by the later coalition government, triggering condemnation from India’s major political parties.
The memory of the violence lingered on a year later, contributing to the drop in Indian pilgrims and sadhus, Kantipur Television, Nepal’s biggest private television channel, said quoting PADT officials.
Besides, the Maha Kumbh Mela, the once in 12 years religious fair, acted as a magnet for Hindu pilgrims in India and Nepal, cutting into Pashupatinath’s followers.
A second concurrent religious festival in Nepal’s Panauti town, also held once in 12 years, was responsible as well for diverting pilgrims.
However, PADT estimated nearly 200,000 people had visited Pashupatinath by early afternoon and more were expected.
Nepal President Ram Baran Yadav will pray at the shrine after attending Army Day celebrations.
Also making a low-key visit to the shrine will be deposed king Gyanendra.
