Kathmandu, August 26
Marking the occasion of the Teej, a huge crowd of devotees has gathered at the Pashupatinath temple since early morning. All four main gates of the temple have been opened from 3 a.m. today for visitors. From the early hours, devotees have been standing in queues, offering worship at the Pashupatinath temple, singing, and dancing.
For the first time, a fine water spray system has been arranged in the temple area to provide cool relief to those observing the fast. This arrangement has been introduced as a trial during Teej, and the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has announced that it will continue in the future as well.
According to Subhash Chandra Joshi, Acting Member Secretary of PADT, arrangements have been made so that devotees can complete their darshan within one to one-and-a-half hours, as it is uncomfortable to wait in long queues under the scorching sun.
PADT Information Officer Anita Bhatt stated that four separate entry lines have been arranged from the outer part of the temple area and, once inside, eight separate lines have been set up to facilitate worship.
The first queue route is from Gaurighat–Umakunda–Dakshinamurti–Rudragadeshwar–Vasuki, entering the temple premises through the northern gate and exiting from the western main gate, where devotees can collect their shoes and slippers from the Kailash South shoe counter.
The second queue route is from Mitrapark–Jayabageshwari–Panchaganesh–Bhimsensathan–Bhuvaneshwari–Shankaracharya Math (South), entering the temple premises through the small western gate near the Iron Bridge and exiting via the western main gate, with footwear collection arranged at the Shankaracharya Math South counter.
The third queue route is from Pingalastan–Charshivayal–Panchadeval–Bajr Ghar to the southern gate, with entry from the small gate near Kotiliteshwar Temple. Devotees will exit through the southern gate and collect their shoes and slippers from a temporary counter set up east of Panchadeval.
The fourth queue route is from Tilganga–Ram Mandir, along the eastern bank of the Bagmati River, crossing the bridge near Aryaghat, entering and exiting through the eastern gate of the Pashupatinath temple. A temporary footwear counter has been set up near the Aryaghat bridge.
For the convenience of devotees after worship, sandalwood (chandan) distribution has been arranged outside the western gate at Sano Sadavart Sattal, Panchadeval Southeast, Umakunda, Dakshinamurti, Tilganga Vanakali, Gaushala, and Jayabageshwari.
During the Shree Yantra Puja at the Pashupatinath temple, arrangements have been made for devotees to have darshan from outside through a protective screen.
For religious activities such as cow donations (Gaudan) and Purnapatra rituals performed by Brahmins, arrangements have been made on both sides of the Bhakuntol–Vanakali road.
Tourists from third countries who have paid the entry fee and obtained tickets have been allowed to visit and observe the fair area (excluding the main temple premises).
