Source::RSS
KHOTANG
Halesi, a religious site closed since April to control the coronavirus epidemic, has been reopened after eight months. The main cave (Mahadev-Parvati Than) and Basaha Cave have been reopened eight months after visitors were barred from visiting the shrine due to the risk of spreading the coronavirus.
Halesi in Khotang, a meeting place for Hindus, Buddhists and Kirants, was closed as the Covid-19 epidemic spread around the world. Mentioning the fact that important religious places of the country have been opened and the devotees have been admitted, the Halesi Tuvachung Municipality has issued a notice and informed that the pilgrims have been allowed to enter the temple following the public health standards.
Mayor Evan Rai said in a statement issued on Tuesday that only ten visitors would be allowed to enter the temple from the main gate at a time. It is mentioned that necessary arrangements will be made in the outer premises of the temple. Volunteers and security personnel deployed at the temple will make necessary arrangements for the devotees to stay in line and if there is a possibility of the adverse impact of the epidemic of Covid-19, they will be barred from entering the temple again at any time in coordination with the local administration.
On the other hand, the Halesi Development Committee has complained that the municipality has reopened the closed temple without consulting them about the reopening of the Halesi temple under the federal government. Chairman of the committee Tanka Rai said that the committee has no objection to the opening of the temple but they are against the opening of the temple outside the jurisdiction of the municipality without consultation.
Mayor Rai, on the other hand, said that the closed Halesi temple was reopened after consulting all stakeholders. "We have talked to Sambar Bhujel, executive director of the development committee, about opening the temple," he said. "After MP Vishal Bhattarai requested to open the closed Halesi temple, it was formally opened after consulting the stakeholders before issuing public notice on behalf of the municipality."
Entrepreneurs have said that visitors and devotees have started flocking to Halesi after the temple, which has been closed for a long time, was reopened. Even hoteliers, whose business has been closed for about eight months, are happy after the opening of the temple. Naturally, the world-famous Halesi is visited by visitors and devotees from Siraha, Saptari, Dhanusha, Janakpur, Jhapa, Biratnagar, Ilam and Sikkim, Darjeeling, Gangtok, Bhutan and Tibet of China. A big fair including Ram Navami, Shivaratri, Balachaturdashi, Haribodhani Ekadashi, Haritalika Teej, Buddha Jayanti and Ballbum is held in Halesi, a tri-religious place that attracts visitors and tourists for 12 months.
A committee has been formed under the coordination of MP Bhattarai to formulate a master plan for the all-round development of the world-famous Halesi. The committee formed under the leadership of Bhattarai is currently working on the long-term master plan of Halesi in consultation with experts.
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