Kathmandu: On the occasion of Haritalika Teej festival, thousands of devotees have gathered at Pashupatinath Temple and other Shiva temples across the country since early morning. To manage the huge influx, the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) opened all four gates of the temple at 3 AM.
According to Subhas Chandra Joshi, Acting Member Secretary of the PADT, devotees had started queuing even before 3 AM. “Currently, devotees are completing darshan within 15 to 20 minutes,” he said.

Security and Queue Management

To ensure smooth flow and safety, around 3,000 security personnel have been deployed in the Pashupati area. Four separate entry queues have been arranged outside the temple starting from Gaurighat, Mitrapark, Pingalasthan, and Tilganga. Inside the temple premises, eight additional queues have been set up to streamline movement.

Darshan and Special Arrangements

Devotees are allowed to enter the main temple and have darshan directly in front of the main idol. During the Shree Yantra Puja, arrangements have also been made for darshan from outside the main temple using a net system, said Anita Bhatta, Information Officer at PADT.
The Trust has also made provisions for volunteer support, distribution of prasad, shoe and slipper storage, improved darshan paths, and emergency health services for devotees.

Advisory to Devotees

PADT has requested devotees not to bring valuables or small children to avoid inconvenience. Treasurer Narayan Prasad Subedi clarified that no special passes have been issued for darshan during the festival.