KATHMANDU, Dec 7: Over 500,000 Hindu devotees thronged the Pashupatinath temple on the occasion of Balachaturdashi to pay homage to the deceased souls in their families and for their eternal peace.

Devotees from all across Nepal started arriving at Pashupatinath from Wednesday to sow the ~Isatbeej ~I(a mixture of various seeds of cereal crops) and lit light wishing for an eternal peace for their nearest and dearest ones who are no more.

According to Member Secretary of Pashupati Area Development Trust, Pradip Dhakal, the crowd of devotees was bigger than expected this year. “However, we managed everything well. We have planned to manage it in an even better way from next year on,” he said.

PADT arranged temporary tents for those staying overnight, drinking water, temporary toilets, Search and Rescue Center for assisting devotees, who came from different parts of the country. Free health camps were also organized by different organizations.

Police personnel were mobilized in each area of the temple to prevent any kind of untoward incidents.  “We have started cleaning the temple in coordination with Nepal Army, Nepal Police, and Armed Police Force. It will nearly take a week to clean the Pashupatinath temple.”

The holy seeds of paddy, maize, wheat, barley, and others are sown at Kailash, Gaurighat, Aryaghat, and Guheswori of Pashupati area, and Panchase, Galeshwor and Lord Shiva’s shrines across the country on the day of Bala Chaturdashi that falls on Marga Krishna Chaturdashi.

As per the Hindu mythology, one’s ancestors will rest in heaven if such seeds are sown at the shrines of lord Shiva after lighting the lamps in their memory on the night of Marga Krishna Trayodashi

 
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• Pashupatinath
 
• Balachaturdashi