Nepal Pays Respect to the Dead of the Kedarnath Tragedy

Kathmandu, July 6, 2013: A special prayer was organised today in Nepal to pay homage to thousands of Hindu pilgrims, both Indian and Nepalese, who lost their lives in devastating floods and landslides in Uttarakhand last month.

Scores of people died and over lakhs left stranded by flash floods and landslides after monsoon rains pounded the hill state on June 15.

Special worshipping was performed in Doleswor Mahadev temple at Sipadol in Bhaktapur to perform regular religious rituals or Nitya Puja, which was obstructed since June 17 in Kedarnath Peeth, said Bharat Mani Jungam, the chairman of the organising committee.

Thousands of Nepalese pilgrims have visited the Kedarnath Peeth last month and around 100 are believed to have gone missing in the natural disaster.

The special worshipping was performed as per the rules followed by Kedarnath Peeth at the request of Jagad Guru Bhimashankar Shivacharya of the Peeth and it will continue in the days to come, he said.

Hundreds of devotees have flocked to the Doleswor Mahadev Temple today to pay homage to Lord Shiva who is regarded as the head of Kedarnath Peeth.

There are many similarities between the Doleswar Mahadev temple of Bhaktapur and Kedarnath Peeth, claims Jungam.

The Doleshwor Mahadev temple is thousands of years old and belongs to the same period in the history as that of Kedarnath Peeth, he said.

The Doleswor Mahadev has been named as Doleswor Mahadev Kedarnathjidham from now onward with the permission of the Jagad Guru Bhimashankar of Kedarnath Peeth, he said.

Holy lights were lit and special Yagya was performed at the temple as part of the age-old religious traditions, according to the organisers.

Speaking on the occasion, Krishna Hari Banskota, Secretary at the Prime Minister''s Office, said that the government has recently allocated Rs 380 million for a five-year renovation and construction project.

There will be an open zoo in the area and the river, the hill and the surrounding natural environment will be protected under the project, he said.