Kathmandu, February 10
The Guthi Sansthan has completed preparations for the Maha Shivaratri festival.
Organising a press conference on Tuesday, the institution announced that all arrangements have been finalised to run the festival from Falgun 1 to Falgun 5. Maha Shivaratri will be observed this year on Falgun 3.
Guthi Sansthan spokesperson Janak Pokharel said the institution has completed all pre- and post-festival preparations. Necessary arrangements have been made to serve sadhus and saints, conduct rituals and manage activities at the Pashupatinath Temple area and various akhadas across Kathmandu.
According to Pokharel, the institution will provide firewood, food, worship materials and offerings to sadhus and saints staying at monasteries, temples and akhadas in the Pashupati area throughout the festival period.
On Falgun 1, employees from the Pashupati branch office will visit the President’s Office to perform a traditional sankalpa ceremony for items to be offered at the Pashupatinath Temple and distributed to sadhus and saints. The items include 21 types of materials such as blankets, shawls, garments, kamandalu, rudraksha beads, rice, lentils, ghee and fruits. Food and firewood arrangements for sadhus and saints will also begin the same day.
On Falgun 2, meals will be provided to sadhus through Annapurna Ashram, while firewood and food will be arranged at akhadas in areas including Ram Mandir, Bhasmeshwar, Nirmal, Mrigasthali Gorakhnath, Bankali and Thapathali.
On the main day, Falgun 3, worship materials, including panchamrit, will be offered at the Pashupatinath Temple. Lamps will be lit in the temple premises in the evening, and sadhus will receive curd, fruits and firewood for ritual fires.
Food and firewood arrangements will continue on Falgun 4, while on Falgun 5, sadhus will be served meals and given different categories of cards based on eligibility. They will then receive offerings and be formally bid farewell according to set rates.
Pokharel said the institution’s main responsibility is to serve sadhus and saints attending the festival by providing firewood for ritual fires, traditional meals and offerings before their departure.
The Guthi Sansthan has allocated Rs 800,000 for purchasing firewood and Rs 3.2 million for festival operations, totalling Rs 4 million this year.
Last year, 2,389 sadhus and saints were classified and given offerings upon departure. The institution spent Rs 2,058,671 on offerings alone and arranged around 50,000 kilograms of firewood.
