KATHMANDU, NEPAL, February 23, 2006: The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has made special arrangement for providing necessary services to the devotees thronging the Pashupatinath temple on the occasion of Mahasivaratri festival. The Trust has specified various points for the devotees to enter the temple on February 26, the day of Mahasivaratri. Accordingly, the devotees can enter Pashupatinath from Mitrapark to reach the northern door of the temple and from Gaushala Chowk to reach the eastern and southern doors via Mangalagauri. According to information shared at a press conference organised by the PADT here today, arrangement of shelter for the sadhus have been made at the Bankali dharmashala, the Tilganga area and Ram Mandir while health camps will be set up at Mangalagauri, Jayabageswari, Panchadewal, Tilganga, Bankali ground, Bhakutole, Bhubaneswari, Umakunda and at Ram Mandir. Likewise, arrangement has also been made for security, cleaning, market management and chanting of religious hymns.
Meanwhile, a 551-member Main Celebration Committee has been constituted under the chairmanship of Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Yangkila Sherpa for organizing of the festival. Various other sub-committees have also been constituted. Nepal Television, Kantipur Television, Radio Nepal and other FM Radio stations will be beaming the festival celebrations live from Pashupati, according to chief coordinator of the Publicity Committee Ram Prasad Dahal. Meanwhile, the Royal Nepal Academy, Department of Culture and Social Sciences organized a cultural seminar on “Importance of Lord Pashupatinath” here today. Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chancellor of the Academy Prof. Dr. Basudev Tripathi said the stories of Lord Siva provide guidelines for people to shun material happiness and take the path to peace. Presenting a working paper on the occasion, Dr. Govinda Tandon, who holds a doctorate degree in the subject of Pashupatinath, said looking at the respect and trust shown by people of all nationalities to Lord Siva during various festivals shows that the Pashupati area is a place that could encourage a spirit of unity in diversity. He also described the Pashupati area as an open museum.