Restoration work at Seto Macchindranath Temple in Nepal begins with India's support

The restoration work of Seto Macchindranath Temple, one of the 28 heritage sites which will be reconstructed with the help of India's assistance, has begun on Sunday in Kathmandu.

Indian Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra along with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Sushil Gyawali and Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Bidya Sundar Shakya jointly carried out 'Bhoomi Pooja' for the restoration of Seto Machindranath temple.

The conservation work of Seto Machindranath temple is the first of the 28 cultural heritage conservation and restoration projects being undertaken by the Indian government.

New Delhi has committed a sum of 580 crores for cultural heritage sector.

All the 28 sites were identified by Nepal Government and both India and Nepal signed Memorandums of Understandings (MoUs) in August 2017.

The Seto Machindranath Temple will be conserved as per Nepal's Ancient Monument Preservation Act, and the Department of Archaeology's Basic Guidelines and Manual for conservation and reconstruction of heritage affected by the 2015 earthquake using material close to the original building material at the time of its construction as per the traditional ethos, local traditions, and values that sustain and enriches such living heritage sites in Nepal.

The temple located in the heart of Kathmandu city is visited by Hindus and Buddhist devotees to worship Seto Machindranath are considered to be one of the Protectors of the Kathmandu Valley.