Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Urban Development, Prakashman Singh, has stated that Kalamasi, near Nagarkot, could become an attractive destination for religious tourism. During the inauguration of the Shiva Purana Mahayagya in Kalamasi, Changu Narayan Municipality today, he emphasized the potential of the area to attract religious tourists. Vice Prime Minister Singh expressed confidence that the ongoing Visit Nagarkot Year will help promote religious tourism, and the Mahayagya will contribute to this cause.
He expressed his happiness at being able to participate in the Mahayagya at a location he had laid the foundation for nearly seven years ago, reaffirming his commitment to help complete the project as planned. Singh believes that the Shiva statue to be built here will also attract tourists to Kathmandu.
The Shiva Purana Mahayagya has begun with the goal of constructing a 108-foot-tall statue of Lord Shiva. In the program, Changu Narayan Municipality Mayor, Jeevan Khatri, mentioned that the Mahayagya, organized on the occasion of Visit Year, will contribute to the overall development of the area, including the Kalpeshwar Mahadev Temple in the vicinity of Nagarkot. To support the construction of the 108-foot Shiva statue in Kalamasi, Changu Narayan Municipality Deputy Mayor, Ramesh Budhathoki, has contributed NPR 108,000.
He believes that the establishment of the Shiva statue will boost not only Kalamasi but also the tourism development of the entire Changu Narayan area. Ward Chairperson of Changu Narayan Municipality-8, Janak Khatri, informed that the construction of the world’s first 108-foot tall seated Shiva statue has started with the help of tantric Shiva practitioners and locals. The Mahayagya aims to raise about NPR 2 crore to cover the costs of building the statue. The Mahayagya will be held for 13 days.
