KAVRE: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav attended the Makar Mela that began at Tribenighat in Panauti today. The Mela is held every 12 years from the first day in the month of Magh. President Yadav, who arrived in Tribenighat at 10 am, worshipped in the Indreshwor Temple and attended a Bhagawat Puran held nearby. He stayed in the temple premises for some time following the services. Dr Yadav inaugurated the Shiva Mahapuran Pitriuddar Gyan Mahayagya organised near Tribenighat to collect funds for running post-graduate programmes in Indreshwor Campus. The President returned after an hour. Despite tight security arrangement during the visit of the head of the state, Maoist cadres greeted him with black flags at various places in Banepa on his way to Panauti. Thousands of people, including foreigners, flocked to Tribenighat, where the Padmawati, Lilawati and Rudrawati rivers meet, today. However, only two rivers can be seen in the Ghat and it is believed that the third one — Rudrawati — is visible only to someone blessed with all the 32 virtues. It is believed that the fair begins formally after the Basuki naga (serpent) takes a bath in Tribenighat on the first day of Magh. The naga is supposed to be staying near the Brahmayani Temple on the first day as well and will move around the area throughout the month.