Nepal temple reveals its accounts

Unveiling a centuries-old shroud of secrecy, authorities at Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal’s most revered Hindu shrine, have started revealing its income from donations. Utpal Parashar reports.

Updated on: Apr 10, 2012, 24:18:20 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Unveiling a centuries-old shroud of secrecy, authorities at Pashupatinath Temple, Nepal’s most revered Hindu shrine, have started revealing its income from donations.

Details of donations made by devotees had remained a mystery to outsiders and used to be shared by priests and storekeepers at the Lord Shiva shrine visited by millions annually.

On Sunday, the first day when counting of donations and offerings for special prayers in the temple began, Pashupati Area Development Trust authorities collected NRs 185,000 (Rs 115,625). At this rate, the temple is expected to generate around NRs 40 million (Rs 25 million) every year. Significantly, collections see a surge on Saturdays, Mondays and important festivals.

“We have set an example by implementing this long-cherished plan. This will contribute greatly to overall development of the temple,” The Kathmandu Post quoted culture minister Gopal Kirati. He is of the view that the development at Pashupati will send a positive message to important temples in Nepal and abroad and make them disclose income generated from donations.

From now Bhattas and Bhandaris (priests and storekeepers) of the temple will get monthly salaries. Nearly NRs 20 (Rs12.5 million) will be spent on wages annually and rest used to develop the UNESCO world heritage site.

Located in Kathmandu on banks of the Bagmati, Pashupatinath is considered the holiest Lord Shiva temple. The temple believed to be around 1500 years old was in news in 2009 when the country’s Maoist government removed the chief priest from India and replaced him with Nepalis. The decision that overturned tradition and saw widespread resentment in India was later overturned by Nepal’s Supreme Court.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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