KATHMANDU, NEPAL, January 9, 2008: Hundreds of people cried and sang in jubilation on Thursday as Hindu devotees began a victory march to celebrate the return of Indian priests to Nepal’s 17th century Pashupatinath temple and the pledge by the humbled Maoist government not to interfere in its management.
“It is a victory for Hindus worldwide,” said Bharat Jangam, a social activist and regular visitor to the temple, who was among the three groups that had asked Nepal’s Supreme Court to intervene after the Indian priests appointed at the shrine nearly a decade ago were replaced by Nepali priests under the new Maoist government.
After nearly two weeks, the shrine returned to its nearly three-century-old routine with the main Indian priest, Mahabaleshwar Bairy, resuming the daily worship. The “nitya puja” has finally resumed as the government requested the recently resigned “mul bhatta” (chief priest) to carry out the regular rituals.