KATHMANDU: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Damodardas Modi performed a special pooja and paid homage to Lord Pashupatinath at Pashupatinath Temple, one of the major centres of reverence for the Hindus, here today. He is in Nepal on a two-day state visit.

Modi arrived at Pashupatinath after visiting Muktinath in Mustang district where he worshipped in the morning.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari, who is also the Chair of the Pashupati Area Development Trust Board of Directors, received the visiting Indian dignitary on the premises of Pashupatinath Temple.

Member Secretary of the PADT Pradip Dhakal, treasurer Milan Kumar Thapa, members of the PADT Board of Directors, PADT staffers and devotees of Pashupatinath were also present to welcome the Indian Prime Minister.

Modi offered his prayers and participated in the religious rituals at the temple for about 50 minutes. 108 Brahmin batuks from Nepal Ved Vidhyashram welcomed PM Modi inside the main temple, chanting the vedic hymns.

On the occasion, Modi paid homage at the shrines inside the Pashupati complex as per Pashupati Darshan rituals and performed a special pooja with ‘Vedic Rudrabhishek’ at the main temple. The main priest of the temple, Ganesh Bhatta, conducted the special pooja.

The Pashupati area was cleaned, a welcome gate constructed and other preparations made for welcoming the Indian dignitary.

Culture Minister Adhikari was quoted in Rastriya Samachar Samiti as saying that the Indian Prime Minister performed the special worship in temple premises.

Prior to this, Modi had performed special pooja with ‘Rudrabhishek’ rituals at Pashupatinath Temple on August 3, 2014. That time he had announced an assistance of INRs 250 million for the renovation of the main temple and additional assistance INRs 50 million for cleaning the temple premises.

(UPDATED)

Modi reaches Pashupatinath temple

KATHMANDU: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Nepal on a two-day visit, has reached Pashupatinath Temple to pay homage to Lord Pashupatinath.

Earlier, in the morning, Modi flew to Mustang district to offer prayers at the Muktinath Temple, the second stop in this visit being largely helmed as a religious one.

Modi landed in Janakpur yesterday and was immediately escorted to the Janaki temple where he performed pooja following the Shodashopachar ritual.

The visiting Prime Minister will be accorded a civic reception by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City office before returning to India today.