Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered prayers at the 15th century Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu on Saturday on the second day of his two-day visit to Nepal. The PM, who earlier offered prayers at Muktinath temple in Mustang, spent close to 30 minutes in the historic temple dedicated to Lord Shiva.
He was welcomed at the temple by Nepal’s Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari and members of the Pashupatinath Area Development Trust (PADT).
Following prayers, the local leaders gifted the PM a replica of the temple encased in a glass box.
“Jai Pashupatinath! Feeling blessed after praying at the majestic Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu,” wrote the PM on Twitter.
The PM had visited the temple in 2014, on his first of the three visits to Nepal. He had at the time donated 4,500 kg of sandalwood to the temple.
After his visit to the temple, the PM met opposition leaders from various political parties in Nepal.
President of Nepali Congress and the leader of the Opposition, Sher Bahadur Deuba, was among the top leaders who called on the PM in Kathmandu to hold talks for stronger India-Nepal relations. Deuba is a former prime minister.
A delegation from the Nepali Congress interacted with the Prime Minister in Kathmandu. pic.twitter.com/m6r8x6HI0z
— PMO India (@PMOIndia) May 12, 2018
Former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, who is the Chairman of Communist Party of Nepal (MC) and an ally in the government, also called on PM Modi.
PM @narendramodi met Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’, Chairman of Communist Party of Nepal – MC. Exchanged views on strengthening views on bilateral relations. pic.twitter.com/PfbaqmAPQd
— Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) May 12, 2018
President of the Rastriya Janata Party (Nepal), Mahanta Thakur also met PM Modi to exchange views on bilateral ties.
The 67-year-old Indian Prime Minister became the first leader in the world to pray at the Muktinath temple earlier today. At the temple, which is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists, the PM prayed as per the rituals followed by the two religions.
He also greeted and interacted with people waiting at the temple premises.
Read More: PM Modi offers prayer at Muktinath temple in Nepal
Muktinath is located at a height of 3,710 metre at the foot of the Thorong La mountain pass.
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. 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 at Janakpur, the birthplace of Goddess Sita. 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.
Lauding the relationship between the two countries, the PM said that Ayodhya is incomplete without Janaki.
Read More: Ayodhya is incomplete without Janaki, says PM Modi referring to India-Nepal
Nepalese Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli received the Indian PM at the temple. The two leaders later held delegation-level talks during which the two sides agreed on a series of matters.
Both prime ministers later expressed their confidence in the strengthening of the historic ties between the two countries which had taken a tumble due to the 2015 Madhesi agitation. The PM’s visit, which a month after PM Oli’s India visit, was seen as an attempt to ‘reset’ ties between New Delhi and Kathmandu.