Nepal’s iconic Pashupatinath Temple opens with safety protocols after 9 months

Nepal’s iconic Pashupatinath Temple, 5th-century holy Hindu shrine, opened for pilgrims on Wednesday after being closed for nine months due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Pashupatinath Temple is largest temple complex in Nepal and stretches on both sides of Bagmati River and sees thousands of worshippers from Nepal and India daily.

entry of devotees inside temple premises was prohibited since Nepal government imposed a lockdown in March to curb spre of coronavirus.

Special safety measures have been opted to open temple which is situated in outskirts of Kathmandu, said Preep Dhakal, chief of Pashupati Temple Area Trust.

Hundreds of devotees queued up at sourn entrance gate of complex on Wednesday, seeking to enter revered Shiva temple.

devotees need to compulsorily wear a face mask, sanitize ir hands at main entrance before passing through a separate room installed with automatic cameras that record ir temperature.

re are marks on ground en-route to main temple complex for enforcing two-meter gap between people.

devotees need to wash ir hands with liquid soap before entering main temple complex.

devotees are allowed to offer prayers inside time going through all health safety protocols, Dhakal said.

Although temple has been opened for visitors, special puja, singing of hymns, and ritual activities would t begin immediately, he said.

We will grually start conducting special puja, singing of hymns, and or rituals that have been suspended by opting health safety procedures, Dhakal said.

Atonement worship was offered at main entrance of temple on Tuesday, seeking forgiveness as shrine h to be shut down for nine months due to COVID-19 pandemic.

Some religious groups h carried out symbolic protests at Pashupati area under leership of World Hindu Federation, saying devotees have t been able to visit temple for worship as it remained closed for months.

Nepal's coronavirus tally crossed grim milestone of 250,000 on Tuesday, according to Ministry of Health and Population.

Over 1,700 people have died of contagion in country. 

(IM CREDITS: PTI)