KATHMANDU, May 11: Visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be the first foreign prime minister to perform Shodashopachara puja at Janakpur temple.

The Shodashopachara worship ceremony – the sixteen ritualistic services including tantric mantra recitation – is permitted only for special guests at the Janaki temple. 

According to Janaki temple's Priest Ramatpeshwor Das Vaishnav, the worship ceremony of the kind has been held only by visiting Indian Presidents Neelam Sanjiva Reddy, Gyani Zail Singh and Pranab Mukherjee in the past. 

Modi will become the first Indian Prime Minister to hold such a worship ceremony at the temple. The Shodashopachara worship ceremony, which lasts for around an hour, includes Pancha Ahuti and mantra recitation by five pundits. During the ritual, the idol of Hindu Goddess Sita is honoured with beautification and decorated with clothes and jewels. 

Modi is scheduled to arrive at 10:15 AM where he will be welcomed by Ishwor Pokhrel, minister of defense and Lal Babu Raut, chief minister of Province 2 at Janakpur airport.

 
• namo
 
• first
 
• indian
 
• pm
 
• perform
 
• shodashopachara
 
• puja
 
• janaki
 
• temple