KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal today called to observe religious tolerance to make the world a safer and better place to live in.

“Religious tolerance is what we need today to bolster up the spirit of fraternity and brotherhood in society," he said, addressing an inaugural of a two-day Birat Satsang Samaroha and Shree Hans Mandap in the premise of Pashupati Area Development Trust.

"Selfless devotion and spirituality is the only way to salvation and social transformation,” the PM said.

PM Nepal also envisaged bringing Hindu pilgrims living elsewhere in the world to Nepal. "It'll help promote religious tourism," he said.

Meanwhile, PM Nepal inaugurated a three-room Mandap which was dedicated to Paramsant Satgurudev Shree Hans Ji Maharaj, an Indian guru of spiritual science.

The Mandap was constructed with the assistance of Shree Satpal Ji Maharaj. "The Mandap is indispensable to those who are inquisitive about people-oriented religion," said PM Nepal, inaugurating it.

Shree Satpal Ji Maharaj, who is also a member of Indian Lok Sabha, urged the government to keep the door of the Pashupatinath Temple open for the people belonging to all religions and faiths. "Gods don't belong to a particular religion or sect," he said.

Shree Satpal is scheduled to give a religious sermon which will last for a couple of days.

Minister for Culture Dr Minendra Rijal appealed to all not to tarnish the image of the holy place that houses the guardian deity of Pashupatinath. "There is no point in repeatedly dragging religion into politics. This will only give a wrong message to the world," he said.

Minister Rijal was hinting at the UCPN- Maoist who had recently protested the appointment of Indian-origin priests in the Pashupatinath Temple.

Thousands of devotees witnessed the inaugural ceremony, where locals and foreigners alike recited songs and vedic mantras.