The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has completed all necessary preparations for devotees visiting Pashupati Nath Temple during the Haritalika Teej festival. At a press conference today, the PADT announced that they have arranged for queue management, volunteer mobilization, health camps, and the distribution of free drinking water for the devotees.
Security has also been reinforced, with all four security agencies ensuring a safe environment around the Pashupati Nath Temple during the festival. PADT spokesperson Rewati Raman Adhikari stated that four different entry points will be set up to manage the flow of devotees visiting the temple this year.
The first entry route will be for devotees coming from the Koteshwor, Tinkune, and Sinamangal areas, entering through the Tilganga Tourist Ticket Counter and proceeding via the Ram Mandir and Aryaghat area before reaching the temple’s eastern gate. Shoes and slippers will be left in the central area after crossing the two bridges over the Bagmati River.
The second route is arranged from the Mitrapark area, where devotees will leave their shoes near the Shankaracharya Math. The third queue will begin from the Gaushala-Pingalasthan-Panchdeval area, with devotees storing their shoes near Bajra Ghar.
The fourth queue will start from Guheshwari, proceeding through the Umakund and Kailash southern area to enter the temple, with devotees leaving their shoes in the open space in front of Guru Mandir.
Inside the temple, after passing through the main gates, devotees will be guided through additional queues to ensure smooth movement. PADT has assigned officers and staff members with special responsibilities for queue management, and temple doors will open as early as 3 a.m. on Friday to accommodate the influx of worshippers, according to Ishworman Bhandari, acting chief of the Cultural Preservation Division.
Additionally, only female police officers will be stationed inside the temple premises during the festival, with 600 female officers already listed for deployment. PADT has also issued a strict policy against photography and videography within the main temple area. Narayan Prasad Subedi, PADT’s treasurer, emphasized that mobile phones will be confiscated if anyone is found taking photos or videos, and the materials will be deleted. This rule has been in place for centuries to protect the sanctity of the temple.
Fines will be imposed on violators, with penalties ranging from NPR 500 for photos taken within the temple complex to NPR 2,100 for images taken inside the inner sanctum. To ensure compliance, PADT will closely monitor the area through staff patrols.
In addition, male devotees will not be allowed entry after 6 a.m. on the festival day. The PADT has requested regular male worshippers to complete their visits earlier. Special provisions have been made for elderly women and mothers carrying infants, allowing them to bypass the queues for a smoother experience.
