BARDIA, Sept 24: The Sraddha (ancestral ceremony) is being performed in the Babai River Gulariya in Bardia district for the first time since the River is declared a holy site a week ago. 

The declaration was made by parliamentarian Sanjaya Gautam amid a programme held here recently in a view of developing the site as one of the religious tourism destinations. 

This new development has spared the locals from traveling far for performing rituals, including ancestral worships, alongside the holy river. 

Parliamentarian Gautam explained, "Locals can now perform religious rituals in the Muktinarayan Ghat in Babai River." 

Echoing with Gupta, Chairperson of Mukitnath Bhadghat Narayan Prasad Shrestha stated that the locals from now onwards need not travel to India or elsewhere for pilgrimage or any religious rituals since water of the River here eventually merges into the holy river in India. 

On the occasion, Babai River, which is known by different names, has been renamed Sarayu River. 

A Maha Yagya was organized for the solemnization of Babai River as a new religious site. 

 
• bardia
 
• the sraddha
 
• ancestral ceremony
 
• babai river gulariya
 
• bardia district
 
• muktinarayan ghat
 
• babai river
 
• mukitnath bhadghat narayan prasad shrestha
 
• maha yagya