30 November 2020, Kathmandu
The Pashupatinath Temple that has been closed since March will be reopened for devotees from December 16.
The temple will open for pilgrims by following the health protocol including social distancing, the Pashupati Area Development Trust has said.
A standard operating procedure has been developed for devotees visiting the temple. According to which, they will enter from one door and exit from another door, wear a mask, sanitize their hands among others, member-secretary of the Trust Dr. Pradip Dhakal said.
Various organizations including the World Hindu Federation had been staging protests against the decision of the government to shut down the holy shrine even after resuming public transportation service.
The temple remained closed for more than eight months since the government enforced a nationwide lockdown on March 24.
This must be probably the first time in the history of the temple that it remained closed for such a long period, says former member-secretary of the Trust Dr. Govinda Tandon.
