Bishnu Prasad Aryal
Kathmandu, January 27
Famous four Hindu temples of the country are at a pathetic condition, waiting for renovation as soon as earlier. Delay in renovation is putting them on verge of collapse. The temples are in a sorry state of repair despite rich income.
According to the Department of Archeology (DoA), Muktinath Temple in Mustang, Mankamana in Gorkha, Ram Mandir in Janakpur and Pashupatinath in Kathmandu are at high risk. The DoA is responsible to renovate three of them while the autonomous Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) is solely accountable to renovation of Pashupatinath.
"There is an urgent need to renovate all of these temples," said Bishnu Raj Karki, Director General at the DoA. "However, we are not at a financially strong position to begin renovation," he said. "I am preparing separate proposals for the renovation of three temples--Muktinath, Manakamana and Ram Mandir," he added.
The DoA is entitled to renovate all the older temples than 100 years while the Ministry of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture (MoFACPAC) is responsible for other cases, said Rishikesh Niraula, under-secretary at the MoFACPAC.
Muktinath is one of the biggest shrine as Pashupatinath while Manakamana is overwhelmingly famous for fulfilling their wishes and Ram Mandir belongs to outstanding art of Mithila. "The condition of Mankamana is at high danger as the temple has bent down for about a decade," said the Ministry sources. "Muktinath is also not out of serious risk as Ram Mandir."
According to DG Karki, at least Rs 70 million is necessary for Manakamana, Rs 40 million for Muktinath and Rs 25 million for Ram Mandir. "Other several temples including Baraha Kshetra are also in need of renovation but they will be renovated in the next phase," said Karki.
The heritages at main temple of Pashupatinath have gone cracked for about two years and the roof of main temple is leaking. Moreover, all of the age-old infrastructures are damaged by mice.
Narrottam Baidya, treasure at the PADT, said that they were going to begin renovation in near future. "Now, we are busy at preparation for electric crematorium. As soon as we call e-bid for the crematorium probably tomorrow, we will start process for renovation," he said.
However, Karki could not divulge when the renovation of three temples would be started. "We don't have any fund now. After we collect the funds, we will begin the renovation," he said. "We are on the process to raise funds."
Karki informed that they first would set up a fund by collecting themselves. "As we collect some money, we will appeal for donations," he added.
Interestingly, the millions of donations offered by the devotees in all of the temples mainly in Pashupatinath and Manakamana are not in records. The priests gobble them without transparency. "We need to maintain transparency of all internal earnings of these temples. If we will be able for this, a huge amount will be collected within a few years," said Baidya, adding that they were amending its act provisioning strong transparency.
Kathmandu, January 27
Famous four Hindu temples of the country are at a pathetic condition, waiting for renovation as soon as earlier. Delay in renovation is putting them on verge of collapse. The temples are in a sorry state of repair despite rich income.
According to the Department of Archeology (DoA), Muktinath Temple in Mustang, Mankamana in Gorkha, Ram Mandir in Janakpur and Pashupatinath in Kathmandu are at high risk. The DoA is responsible to renovate three of them while the autonomous Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) is solely accountable to renovation of Pashupatinath.
"There is an urgent need to renovate all of these temples," said Bishnu Raj Karki, Director General at the DoA. "However, we are not at a financially strong position to begin renovation," he said. "I am preparing separate proposals for the renovation of three temples--Muktinath, Manakamana and Ram Mandir," he added.
The DoA is entitled to renovate all the older temples than 100 years while the Ministry of Federal Affairs, Constituent Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs and Culture (MoFACPAC) is responsible for other cases, said Rishikesh Niraula, under-secretary at the MoFACPAC.
Muktinath is one of the biggest shrine as Pashupatinath while Manakamana is overwhelmingly famous for fulfilling their wishes and Ram Mandir belongs to outstanding art of Mithila. "The condition of Mankamana is at high danger as the temple has bent down for about a decade," said the Ministry sources. "Muktinath is also not out of serious risk as Ram Mandir."
According to DG Karki, at least Rs 70 million is necessary for Manakamana, Rs 40 million for Muktinath and Rs 25 million for Ram Mandir. "Other several temples including Baraha Kshetra are also in need of renovation but they will be renovated in the next phase," said Karki.
The heritages at main temple of Pashupatinath have gone cracked for about two years and the roof of main temple is leaking. Moreover, all of the age-old infrastructures are damaged by mice.
Narrottam Baidya, treasure at the PADT, said that they were going to begin renovation in near future. "Now, we are busy at preparation for electric crematorium. As soon as we call e-bid for the crematorium probably tomorrow, we will start process for renovation," he said.
However, Karki could not divulge when the renovation of three temples would be started. "We don't have any fund now. After we collect the funds, we will begin the renovation," he said. "We are on the process to raise funds."
Karki informed that they first would set up a fund by collecting themselves. "As we collect some money, we will appeal for donations," he added.
Interestingly, the millions of donations offered by the devotees in all of the temples mainly in Pashupatinath and Manakamana are not in records. The priests gobble them without transparency. "We need to maintain transparency of all internal earnings of these temples. If we will be able for this, a huge amount will be collected within a few years," said Baidya, adding that they were amending its act provisioning strong transparency.
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