KATHMANDU, May 20: The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) began implementing its new policy on May 18 but the Bhandaris, the traditional caretakers of Pashupatinath temple, are protesting. [break]
Among other things, the new policy sets out age requirements and remuneration details for the Bhandaris. The Bhandaris are not satisfied with these new arrangements.
Apart from the pay structure, PADT has also brought in regulations on the working age for the Bhandaris. Traditionally the Bhandaris were allowed to work from the time they are 12 and keep on working for the rest of their lives. But now they need to be 18 years old to begin working and their time ends at the age of 60.
Pashupati Study Center to be established in Pashupati area
The Bhandaris feel that they are cheated by this provision as well because, while an age limit applies, they do not hold any government post or receive a regular salary.
“Either they should give us a fixed salary or they should not disturb the traditional way in which we got paid,” says Om Bhandari.
While PADT has installed collection boxes at all four gates of Pashupatinath temple, where the priests and Bhandaris are to deposit the alms received over the day, the Bhandaris haven´t deposited the amounts collected, according to Paramananda Shakya, PADT member secretary.
“We received around Rs 45,000 from the collection boxes on May 18 and around 31,000 on May 19. The Bhandaris, however, haven´t deposited the money received at the western gate,” Shakya says.
To press their point further, the Bhandaris are ready to take their case to court, as they feel that the current regulations are unfair to them.
“We are going to court and we will only follow the verdict of the court. The current changes in policy hold no meaning for us,” says Om Bhandari.
SC moved
The controversy over the new Pashupati Area Development Fund Regulations has reached to the Supreme Court. A public interest litigation was filed in teh apex court seeks nullification of the new rules.
Bharatmani Jangam, a resident of Baneshwar, on Wednesday filed the petition, arguing that the regulations violate the age-old tradition and practice at the Pashupatinath Temple.
