JANAKPURDHAM: President Bidya Devi Bhandari visited the Ram-Janaki Temple here in Janakpurdham on the occasion of Vivaha Panchami, on Wednesday.

President Bhandari arrived in the holy town boarding a helicopter this morning. She was accompanied by Chief of the Army Staff of Nepal Army, General Rabindra Chhetri, Minister for Land Reforms and Management Ram Kumar Subba and the Chairman of Nepal Guthi Sansthan.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Ranjit Rae, however, cancelled his visit.

Security was beefed up in Janakpur as the Madhes-based parties protested the President's visit and staged demonstration.

As per the schedule, the President spent 10 minutes in the temple. She said her family has deep connections with Janakpur.

The priest of Ram-Janaki Temple, Mahanta Ram Tapeshwor Das Krishna, offered a present to the Head of the State.

As soon as the President left, cadres of the United Democratic Madhesi Front entered the temple premises and resorted to vandalism.

It is reported that security personnel lobbed several rounds of tear gas shells to disperse the mob.

The UDMF cadres had staged protests in different parts of Dhanusha district since this morning. They had burned the President's effigy yesterday.