RAO-PASUPATHI 2 LST

The Indian Foreign Secretary said she came here to
worship Pashupatinath "to get his blessings". "I always come
to Pashupatinath Temple whenever I visit Kathmandu," she said,
adding "I pray for his blessings for the people of Nepal, with
whom we share close ties of friendship and partnership."

PADT Member Secretary Shushil Nahata and Treasurer
Narottam Vaidya briefed Rao on the latest situation at the
temple.

The Maoists have been trying to end the 300-year-old
monopoly of Indian priests at the famed Pashupatinath temple,
one of the holiest Hindu shrines.

On September 4, a group of Maoists barged into the
temple and assaulted Girish Bhatta and Raghavendra Bhatta, the
two Indian priests from Karnataka. The Maoists were protesting
against the recent appointment of Indian priests.

The Indian government had condemned the attack on the
priests as an "unprovoked and criminal" act.

The Maoist government led by Prachanda last year
sacked the chief priest and other Brahmins from south India,
and appointed Nepalese priests to replace them, sparking
protests. Later, Prachanda revoked the decision.

Located on the banks of the Bagmati river,
Pashupatinath is regarded as the most sacred temple of Shiva
(Pashupati) and the oldest Hindu shrine in Nepal. The fifth
century temple is also listed in UNESCO World Cultural
Heritage Site list. PTI SBP
SDE


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