Kathmandu: Thousands of Hindu devotees
from India are expected to throng the revered Pashupatinath
Temple here, where a Delhi-based musical group will sing
'bhajans' during Mahashivaratri.
Indian Ambassador to Nepal Rakesh Sood is expected to
inaugurate the religious musical show titled "Shiva Stuti and
Bhajans" to be performed by the five-member group led by
singer Bhuvanesh Komkali, grandson of Indian classical singing
maestro Kumar Gandharva, beginning today.
Minister for Culture and Federalism Minendra Rijal
will be the chief guest during the concluding ceremony of the
three day religious musical programme being organised in the
4th century Hindu shrine.
The number of devotees will be almost double this year
as compared to the last year due to the improved security at
the temple, said Shushil Nahata, Chief of the Pashupati Area
Development Board.
"Last year some 3,00,000 people visited Pashupati on
Mahashivaratri and this year we will have more than 5,00,000,"
he said.
Some 3,000 security personnel are to be mobilised and
about 5,000 volunteers will provide service to the devotees.
After a Supreme Court ruling that annulled an attempt
by erstwhile Maoists government to appoint local priests,
Pashupati now has five priests including the chief priest from
South India as per centuries old tradition.
PTI
First Published: Thursday, February 11, 2010, 18:23