KATHMANDU, Jan 19: The Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu has been shut down for devotees from today due to the growing risk of the new variant of COVID-19.

According to the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT), the revered Hindu holy shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva has been closed for the public until further notice. 

Pashupatinath Temple as well as other shrines on the premises such as Guhyeshwari and Chandrabinayak among others were drawing large gatherings of devotees lately, posing threat of transmission of COVID-19.

PADT's Executive Director Dr Ghanashyam Khatiwada said that the regular worship, aarati among other rituals, will continue at these shrines during this period by adhering to health safety measures. 

All other services at the Pashupatinath Temple such as special puja, hymn singing and other rituals have been closed as per the decision of the government to prevent and control spread of COVID-19, the PADT said.

The Pashupatinath Temple was closed for devotees toward the end of March 2020 when the first wave of COVID-19 hit. The temple was reopened after nine months, toward mid-December 2020 and devotees as well as temple authorities were subjected to adherence to health safety protocols against the deadly infection. 

When the second wave hit during last April, temple authorities again closed the temple owing to the risk of the Delta variant of COVID-19. The temple was reopened after nearly five months as the number of COVID-19 cases began to decline in the country. 

Now that the Omicron variant of COVID-19 has become pervasive, the PADT decided to close the Pashupatinath Temple for devotees until further notice. 

(RSS)

 
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