Nepal President participates in 'Kshama Puja', inaugurates new 'Jalahari' at Pashupatinath Temple

Nepal President Bidhya Devi Bhandari on Wednesday participated in "Kshama Puja" and administered the inauguration of the new 'Jalahari' at Pashupatinath Temple.

President Bhandari reached the revered Hindu holy site in the late afternoon and performed the special worship for atonement and administered the inauguration of the new 'Jalahari', the base of Shiva Linga inside the temple.

Thirty-three Brahmins from India have come for worship before placing the golden 'Jalahari' in the main Shivalinga of the Pashupatinath Temple.

They have been worshiping for few days.

A total of 121 priests of Bhagwat Ashram and Pashupati are performing pooja.

The decision of the government to replace the base of the Shiva Linga with a gold filling came into controversy as historians claimed that it is against historical and religious values.

Many activists protested the plan to replace the ancient silver base with gold.

Two writ petitions were also filed in the Supreme Court on Monday against the government's decision to install golden Jalahari at the Pashupatinath Temple.