On Sunday, around 175,000 women reportedly visited the shrine of Lord Shiva on the occasion of Haritalika Teej, the most special day of the four-day festival. [break]
“Yes, there was provision of Rs 1000 ticket for women who wanted to enter the temple directly. However, only 36 women sought the facility,” said Govinda Tandan, member secretary of PADT. “It shows that our plan for crowd management was effective. Fewer women felt the need to opt for the facility,” he added.
Pabitra Rawal, a devotee who had queued to enter the shrine, said the management was good enough, but she was quick to add that it was not fair to let some women directly enter the temple just because they can afford to pay the sum while the rest waited in a long queue.
“Is it fair that you can have access to temple if you spend money? The idea is disgusting. I would never enter the temple that way even if the amount is something I can afford,” added a woman from Kalanki.
Tandan informed that more than 100 women had sought the facility last year. “This time, we had ensured that even the women in queue could enter inside the temple without waiting for long,” he said.
According to him, the provision needed not to be criticized since it was meant for those who are ready to quickly offer their prayers and come back within seconds.
PADT had formed a 51-member organizing committee and five sub-committees for smooth movement of devotees in the Pashupathinath on Sunday.
Around 3,200 personnel from Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force were deployed at the temple premises area besides scores of volunteers.
Tandan reported that except for a few cases of women fainting due to heat, exhaustion and rigorous fast they observe, no untoward incident was reported on Sunday.
VOX - POP
“Rs 1,000 provision not fair”
Puja Gharti - Last year I had stood in a queue for 4 hours during the Teej. But once I came to know about the Rs 1000 provision on radio, it really felt bad. I didn´t visit the temple this year. We observe fast throughout the day without even drinking water and go to the Pashupatinath temple for worship. There we have to stay in a queue for hours just to get inside the temple. And then, there are few women who can directly enter the shrine just by paying the sum. How can it be fair?
Sita Shrestha - If they had done it in market, like higher prices for better services, it could be accepted. But such a provision in the place of worship is nonsense. It can never be justified. Rs 1000 is a huge amount for the people like us. Moreover, would the Lord be happy with us if we overtake his other devotees on the strength of money? I don´t think so. It is simply not fair and the authority should do away with it.
Anita Bhattarai - Nobody would like to be discriminated - more so in a temple-and that too on the basis of their financial status. I had heard about such practices in India. Now we see it here. I am not happy with it. This is not good at all. For those who have money, it may sound as a good idea; but what about thousands of women in a queue?
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