Pokhara, May 25

Former chief justice Sushila Karki said following a religion was not about just visiting a temple and praying and ringing bells.

Inaugurating World Hindu Federation’ seventh national convention in Pokhara today, former chief justice Karki asked individuals to purge themselves of their bad habits and thinking. “Rather than spending money in the name of religion, we need to be fully committed to our faith,” she said.

Campaigns meant to promote a religion and the values it represents by using money was wrong, according to Karki.

Karki stressed the need to make the youth aware of the wisdom of the Vedas.

“The Vedas of the Hindu religion are perhaps the oldest scriptures and contain invaluable wisdom. So we must inspire the youths who are wandering in the dark to draw from the huge trove of wisdom recorded in the Vedas, and lead an ideal life,” the former CJ observed.

Lawmaker Rajendra Lingden urged all and sundry to be ready to save the ancient religion of the land.

“Nepal has around 82 per cent of the population practising Hinduism, but the religion is faring badly these days. It’s high time the nation stood together once again to retrieve the previous identity of a Hindu state,” he said.

Former speaker of the Parliament Taranath Ranabhat also acknowledged the attacks against Hinduism and asked all Nepalis to unite to protect it.

Various other religious leaders also spoke on the occasion.