KATHMANDU: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has reached Pashupatinath Temple to begin the installation of golden ‘Jalahari’.

President Bhandari’s personal secretary Bhesharaj Adhikari informed that President Bhandari has reached Pashupati to perform special worship for atonement.

Thirty-three Brahmins from India have come for worship before placing the golden ‘Jalahari’ in the main Shivalinga of the Pashupatinath Temple. They have been worshiping since few days.

Raju KC, a former member of the Pashupati Area Development Trust and a member of the Jalahari Construction Management Committee, said that 121 Pandits of Bhagwat Ashram and Pashupati are performing pooja.

According to KC, Jalhari will be kept after the President performed special worship for atonement. The Pashupati Area Development Trust is planning to keep golden ‘Jalahari’ in place of silver.

Prime Minister KP Oli had decided to provide Rs 300 million on behalf of the government to keep the gold ‘Jalahari’. It is  estimated  Rs 1 billion to install ‘Jalahari’.

Meanwhile, two writ petitions were filed in the Supreme Court on Monday against the government decision to install golden Jalahari at the Pashupatinath Temple.

Locals, heritage conservationalist, Pashupatinath’s Bhandari and others have been protesting against it.