Idol found during Bishnumati River clean up

KATHMADU: An idol was discovered during a clean up drive along the Bishnumati River on Saturday morning, March 8.

The idol was unearthed from a garbage-buried section between Kalimati Bridge and Gyantirtha as part of the river cleaning campaign led by the Kathmandu Metropolitan City.

Local heritage activists and residents claim that the statue is the lost Kamdev (Chhatrachandeshwar, Lakulish) from the Bhimmukteshwar Temple, which went missing on April 7, 2022.

According to Yaddab Lal Kayastha, the city’s heritage advisor, the statue originally belonged to the Bhimmukteshwar Temple on the banks of the Bishnumati River. A search application was filed at the Kalimati Police Station after its disappearance.

SSP Rajunath Pandey stated that the Department of Archaeology is preparing to investigate the statue’s origin and verify whether it belongs to the temple. The statue, currently kept at the office of the Metropolitan Police Force after being cleaned, shows signs of deterioration due to prolonged exposure to water, with its fine arts and details worn down.

According to Senior Deputy Inspector of Police Lekh Bahadur Magar from the Kalimati Police Circle, the Department of Archaeology will conduct a detailed study and submit a report on the findings.

The city authorities are coordinating with relevant agencies to determine the appropriate steps, including restoring the statue to its original place if the claims are validated.

Sanumaiya Maharjan, the contact person for the river cleaning program, confirmed that the statue was discovered while using a dozer to remove waste from the river section. Further steps will be taken once the Department of Archaeology completes its assessment.