Pashupatinath
Shivaratri is one the most auspicious festival for Hindus. The festival is celebrated with lot of zeal and enthusiasm throughout the world. In Nepal, Pashupatinath is the center of worship. Thousands of pilgrims as well as local devotees throng in the premises of Pashupatinath obstructing the traffic of whole Kathmandu. Pashupatinath is considered as one of the holiest shrine for Hindus. The shrine is located on the western bank of holy Bagmati River. There are over a dozen of shrines dedicated to different aspect of Shiva or his divine consort in the periphery. Among them, Bishworupa temple, Guheshwori (saktipith), Kiranteshower mahadev temple, Goraknath temple are notice-worthy.
Historically, the temple has been mentioned in the prehistoric scriptures and chronologies. There are hundred of legends related with Pashupatinath from the time of the origin of Kathmandu valley. However the oldest inscription found in the premises dates back to 3rd century.
Shivaratri is one of the major festivals in Nepal. Yogis from all over southeast Asia come to Kathmandu weeks ahead of the festival. On this holy day people fast through out the day. One can see several groups of women and devotees chanting and dancing whole day. At dawn, worshipers take a holy bath or dip in the river and go to the temple to worship. On that particular day it is allowed to smoke hashish or Marijuana, which is considered as one of the prized possession of Lord Shiva.
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