- 10 kg of gold was missing from the jewellery
- The temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu
- The issue of Jalhari almost came up in the Parliament
The anti-corruption body on Sunday evacuated the premises of Nepal’s Pashupatinath temple to investigate corruption related to the Jalhari temple, and officials have begun probing the gold used in the temple’s Jalhari. According to a report, 10 kg of gold was missing from 100 kg of Jalhari.
The temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu
Pashupatinath Temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Kathmandu. Jalhari is a gold ornament which was installed around the Shivalinga inside the temple during Maha Shivratri last year. The government had directed a commission to probe abuse of power to launch an inquiry after reports of 10 kg of gold missing from the ornaments of the Shivling in Parliament.
The Pashupati Area Development Authority claimed that it had bought 103 kg of gold for making Jalhari but 10 kg of gold was missing from the jewellery. Pashupati Area Development Trust Executive Director Ghanshyam Khatiwada told the media that Pashupatinath’s gold-plated jalhari has been seized by the anti-corruption body to determine its quality and weight after questions were raised over the missing gold.
Security personnel were deployed
Dozens of security personnel, including Nepal Army personnel, have been deployed in the Pashupati temple premises while the investigation process continues. Devotees are prohibited from entering the temple from 3.30 pm on Sunday and sources said the temple will remain closed till midnight. The CIAA officials sealed the four gates of the temple and the devotees were asked to leave the premises.
Jalhari was unveiled by then President Bidya Devi Bhandari on February 24, 2021, three days before the scheduled date. The issue of Jalhari worth about one billion rupees was also raised in the Parliament of Nepal.
