Kathmandu : Sadhus and ascetics who had arrived at the Pashupatinath Temple to observe the Mahashivaratri festival were given a ritualistic farewell today by the Guthi Sansthan and the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT).
The farewell ceremony was held at 11:00 am at the western gate of the temple. According to Guthi Sansthan spokesperson Janak Pokharel, the saints were offered cash amounts ranging from Rs 551 to Rs 11,000 each.
During the Mahashivaratri Festival 2082 BS, observed on February 15, more than 4,000 Sadhus and ascetics from Nepal and various parts of India gathered at the Pashupatinath Temple. The farewell ceremony is traditionally held on the new moon day of the month of Fagun.
The PADT bears the cost of food, accommodation, and other necessary facilities for those who come to observe the festival. The offerings provided to them include 21 ritual items such as a lota (a round water pot), chamar (a traditional ceremonial fly-whisk made from the long, soft tail hair of the Tibetan yak), radi (a traditional woolen rug), and cash assistance, as previously announced by President Ramchandra Paudel.
