KATHMANDU, AUGUST 5
Lalitpur Municipality has prohibited sitting on the premises of temples in Patan Durbar Square area in Lalitpur.
Municipality Police Chief Sitaram Hacchethu told THT that the decision was brought in a bid to discourage indecent activities of youngsters that were often seen on the temple premises.
He also said the move would be helpful to protect the stones and wooden artifacts from human contact.
Currently, prohibition ules have been introduced three temples - Biswonath temple, Hari Shankar Temple and Jagat Narayan Temple.
The new rule will restrict people from sitting idly on he platforms of temple. Scores of people are seen n the temple platforms on daily basis merrymaking and socialising among friends. The LMC has however not decided on the famous stone carved Krishna Temple owing to its daily ritualistic values where hundreds of commoners come to worship lord Krishna.
"We will introduce some kind of rule in Patan temple as well which will not hamper daily rituals while allowing the smooth flow of devotees in the temple,"Hacchetu said.
The new rule has been implemented with the direction of LMC Mayor Chiri Babu Maharjan. A few days ago, a video of a foreigner complaining about people sitting on the temple premises had gone viral in social media. He had opined that such acts could deteriorate the heritage sites and thus should be banned.
Hacchetu said complaints were filed at the local government after the video was circulated on social media. Acting on the issue, LMC today installed 'no-entry' sign to prohibit people from entering the temples except for regular worship.
The rule will be implemented by city police which will be deployed at the site until midnight.
A version of this article appears in the print on August 6, 2023, of The Himalayan Times.
