Ranipokhari to not open for Bhai Tika this year

Kathmandu / Oct 30: The temple of Balgopaleswar, that used to open for the public only on the day of Bhai tika during Tihar festival, will not be available for the same this year. This is the second year that the temple will not be open for those wishing to put tika on the auspicious day.

The temple is under re-construction since it was damaged in the April 2015 earthquake. The reconstruction work has been mired in controversy and the Department of Archaeology has asked the Kathmandu Metropolis to stop the work, citing that it did not follow the norms of repairing an archaeological site.

“As the construction work is underway, the general public cannot go inside the premise. And like last year, they will have to be content with a photograph of the temple for receiving tika”, said spokesperson of KMC Gyanendra Karki. The temple draws a large number of people, especially who do not have sister or brother for the bhai tika, or who has not been able to go back to their respective brother or sister for the same. RSS