Fresh row at Pashupati with Indian priests set for appointment

Shirish B. Pradhan

Kathmandu, Aug 17 (PTI) Nepal's holiest Hindu temple
may be embroiled in fresh row with the management of the
Pashupatinath set to appoint new Indian priests, a move the
Maoists have threatened to oppose.

The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), which
runs the the Pashupatinath Temple, has formed a three-member
committee under the chairmanship of chief priest Mahabalishwor
Bhatta of South India, to suggest names of two new priests.

Maoists have threatened to launch an agitation if PADT
appoints new priests from South India to fill the two vacant
posts.

As there are only three priests at Pashupatinath, and
Basuki temple, inside the Pashpatinath area, is without any
priest, it has become very urgent to appoint new priests, said
Narottam Vaidya, treasure of the PADT.

We should appoint the priests from among the south
Indians as per the tradition, he underlined.

A new regulation, enforced during the Maoist-led
government that allowed the appointment of Nepalese priests,
has been challenged in the Supreme Court and the matter is
still pending in the court, Vaidya said.

We have no other choice than follow the tradition of
appointing Indian Brahmins as per 300-year-old tradition, he
stressed. But we will not appoint priests without following
proper procedure, he added. PTI SBP
DDC
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