Lalitpur, August 28:

Members of the Jagaruk Mahila Bikas Samuha (JMBS), a women’s group under the Community Development Section, Lalitpur sub-Metropolitan City (CDS/LMC), have been given the responsibility to keep 10 important temples of Patan clean. Hindu temples and Buddhist monasteries will be cleaned under this campaign. The temples to be covered by the campaign

are those located on the periphery of Kumbeshwore area, which includes Banglamukhi mandir. Maha Laxmisthan, Bal Kumari mandir, Mateku Bhairav, Mahaboudha, Okubahal and Krishna Chowk, among others. Wanting to make this a little more than just an another clean-up drive and “more informative, the women are given a briefing on the historical background and importance of the temple they are cleaning”, said campaign coordinator Shova Maharjan.

The women hope the campaign will be a boon in many ways — from keeping the environment

clean to preservation of heritage to active participation of women in the social sector. The LMC has allocated a budget of Rs 2,000 for each temple, which were used to buy brooms and other cleaning materials.

On the eve of Krishnastami, 35 JMBS women from 18 to 45 years of age cleaned up the Krishna mandir. “Krishnastami is a very special occasion. Even the King visits the temple then. We did a thorough cleaning as we realised that corners and some parts inside the temple are usually ignored on other cleaning days,” said Sabina Maharjan of CDS/LMC. “The effort put in during occasions has helped get recognition for a work well done as well as people’s feed back, which has helped us in improving our work,” she said.