Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Nepal, on Thursday prayed at iconic Muktinath temple that is regarded sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists, becoming the first world leader to offer prayers there.
Visiting the temple, PM Modi carried out rituals both according to the Hindu and Buddhist traditions. After praying, he also greeted and interacted with people waiting at the temple premises.
Muktinath is located at a height of 3,710 metre at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass.
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The prime minister would return to Kathmandu and visit the Pashupatinath temple.
PM Modi is also scheduled to attend a reception hosted by Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Manjev Singh Puri, later in the day.
He will attend a civic reception hosted by Kathmandu Metropolitian City before returning to New Delhi.
This is Prime Minister Modi’s third visit to Nepal and he chose the holy city of Janakpur to begin his two-day tour of the country.
On Friday, PM Modi’s first stop was the historic Janaki temple, which is dedicated to Goddess Sita at Janakpur, the birthplace of Goddess Sita. Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli received the Indian PM at the temple.
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The PM offered prayers at the temple, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to do so. Wearing a pink headgear, the PM performed a ceremonial puja as per “khodasopachar” rituals.
After offering prayers, PM Modi and Oli jointly flagged off a bus connecting Janakpur to Ayodhya – the birthplace of Lord Ram – in Uttar Pradesh in India.
(With agency inputs)