Yamaleshwor Temple at Rani Pokhari will remain closed on this Bhai Tika this year as well, as reconstruction work here is yet to be completed. 

The temple in the middle of the pond earlier used to be opened only on Bhai Tika for those to perform puja here who do not have sisters. Bhai Tika is observed on the last day of the five-day Tihar festival with sisters offering tika and prasad to their brothers.

The temple was damaged by the April 25 earthquake last year. 

The temple had remained closed last year as well. 

In earlier years, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City, the agency authorised to look after the temple, used to decorate the whole Rani Pokhari area for celebrations. 

“But this time we can’t do this due to ongoing reconstruction work,” said Hari Sharan KC, an official at the KMC.

The historic temple was built in 1670 by King Pratap Malla to console his queen who was heartbroken after the death of their son. 

The KMC had earlier said reconstruction of the temple would e completed by this Bhai Tika. Reconstruction work at the temple, however, had run into controversy following complaints that archaeological and religions norms were not being followed, as the construction company was allegedly using concrete structures. 

Even the UN cultural agency had drawn the attention of the concerned agencies and the KMC to follow the archaeological norms while reconstructing the structure with huge historic significance. 

On January 16, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari had inaugurated the national reconstruction campaign by laying the foundation stone of this very temple at Rani Pokhari. 

The temple is currently being constructed under the supervision of the Department of Archaeology.