Valley
Pashupati temple trust discontinues VIP pass system for Mahashivaratri
The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) will not be issuing VIP passes for the Mahashivaratri festival this year.The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) will not be issuing VIP passes for the Mahashivaratri festival this year.
The VIP pass system has been discontinued because of public complaints, Pradeep Dhakal, member secretary of the trust, said on Monday.
“Whoever wishes to offer prayers at the temple can do so by joining the queue,” he said. According to the PADT, all four gates to the main temple complex will be opened at 3am Tuesday.
The lines of devotees will start from Pingalasthan, Dakshina Murti, Jaya Bageshwori and Buwaneshwori.
“All preparations for the festival have been completed. Safety of visitors and swift movement of devotees’ queues are our top priorities,” said Rewati Raman Adhikari, administrative officer of the PADT.
As part of the security arrangement, 3,000 Nepal Police, 1,500 Armed Police Force and 50 Central Investigation Bureau personnel are being deployed in and around the temple area. They will be supported by 1,900 Scouts and 100 Shiv Sena cadres. The PADT has decided against using volunteers this time, citing that they were not as effective handling the crowd in the past.
Traffic around the Pashupati area will be closed throughout Tuesday. No vehicles will be allowed towards the Pashupati area from Ratopul, Sifalchaur, Tilganga and Old Baneshwor.
39 arrested in marijuana crackdown
Kathmandu: The Metropolitan Police Circle, Gaushala, has arrested 39 people for use and possession of marijuana from the Pashupati area in the last two days. DSP Anupam Shrestha said two Indian sadhus are among the people arrested in the crackdown on cannabis. The two Indian holymen were allegedly caught selling marijuana to visitors. Police and the PADT have vowed to arrest those found smoking or selling marijuana on the Pashupati temple premises during Mahashivaratri.