KATHMANDU, FEBRUARY 23

The Pashupati Guthi and Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) bid farewell to about 3,000 sages, who had arrived from India and other parts of the world for Mahashivaratri, amid a function on the Pashupatinath temple premises today.

The two bodies organised a collective farewell for all sadhus unlike in the past, when each sadhu used to receive individual farewell package. According to PADT, about 800,000 devotees, including some 3,000 naked sages, had visited the temple during the festival.

PADT treasurer Narottam Vaidya said they organized what he called a 'grand farewell' from 12 am to 3 pm. In the past, the Guthi used to offer each departing sadhu with 200 gm of gajuri peda, money ranging from Rs 151 to Rs 1,151, deer and cheetah hide and marijuana based on their ranks.

About 15 years ago, then Home Minister KP Sharma Oli had ordered the authorities not to distribute cannabis to the holy men at the farewell, while the distribution of hide has stopped on account of wildlife laws. 'We gave the sages an equal amount of money as a token of love, but some did not accept it and said they don't need it,' Vaidya said, refusing to disclose the amount.

Considered one of the greatest Hindu festivals, Mahashivaratri is observed by worshipping Lord Shiva in Mahadeva temples wishing for peace and prosperity across the world. The Himalayas are considered the abode of Lord Shiva.

A version of this article appears in the print on February 24, 2022, of The Himalayan Times.