KATHMANDU: The Kumari Ghar (the house of the Living Goddess Kumari), at Basantapur, in Kathmandu, which was shut for the public following the April 25 quake, has been reopened for public from Thursday.The Kumari Ghar, built in 1757, known for its magnificent carvings as well as its divine inhabitant and is regarded as a religious landmark amongst the Hindus and Buddhists as well as a tourist spot. The three-storey brick house was at risk after the powerful earthquake, and the Living Goddess had been shifted to a secure area on the ground floor in the Kumari courtyard. Entry for the public had been prohibited due to the security concerns. The present nine-year-old Kumari has already been shifted back to the second floor where she used to stay before the quake. Devotees now can visit the Living Goddess between 7am and 9 am and 4pm and 6 pm, said Gautamratna Shakya, Chairperson of the Indrajatra Management Committee and one of the attendants to the Kumari.

Man detained, freed

KATHMANDU: The Immigration Office at Tribhuvan International Airport on Wednesday detained Juber Khan, 30, of India for allegedly misbehaving with an immigration official and trying to manhandle him. “Khan was about to board an Air Arabia flight bound for Dubai when he misbehaved with the official and hurled offensive language at him when he asked the passenger to produce passport and visa,” said Meghnath Kafle, chief of Immigration Office. The Department of Immigration freed Khan after he apologised and expressed written commitment to not repeat such mistake in future.