President of India, Pranab Mukherjee, who is presently on a three-day state visit to Nepal, performed special pooja at the Pashupatinath temple here in Kathmandu on Thursday.

On this special occasion, he also offered prayers to the Basuki Temple, the Surya (sun) God, Narayana, Bhairab, and other gods and goddesses, and deities on the premises of the temple.

He entered the famous holy shrine of the Lord Shiva from the Garbha Griha and offered special worships to the Aghor Swarup (form) of the Pashupatinath from the temple's south gate and the form of the Tatpurusha from the eastern entrance.

The high-profile guest from the southern neighbour performed the special pooja with the established rituals that included Panchamrit snan and the Rudri Path (chanting of Rudri scriptures).

Prior to this, he paid homage to the Sankatmochan Hanuman and Nawagraha and offered the special prayers to the Devadhidev Mahadev with lighting the sawalakh batti (125,000 wick lamps).

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, Ministry's secretary Shankar Prasad Adhikari, Pashupati Area Development Trust member secretary Govinda Tondon and PADT other officials welcomed the Indian President to the temple main entrance.

Following his entry to the Temple, he was received by Gargi Kanya Gurukul students and Batuks of Nepal Ved Vidhyashram who were there in a line on two sides of the path.

The welcome was followed by the Swasti Bachan by the Batuks. The Panchakanya (five girls) adorned in Hakupatasi (Newari traditional dress) were also there to welcome him.

Following the special pooja, he received phoolprasad (offerings) from Pashupati Temple's Mulbhatta (main priest) Ganesh Rawal. Minister Shahi who is also the Trust Chair presented a 'token of love' to President Mukherjee.

Prior to this, the Indian President signed on the Visitors Book kept there on which he mentioned that India would assist in the reconstruction of the Pashupati area. RSS

Kathmandu University confers honorary doctorate to visiting Indian prez

Kathmandu University on Thursday confered an honorary doctorate on Indian President Pranab Mukherjee amid a special convocation oragnised at Army Officers Club in Kathmandu on Thursday .

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal also the Chancellor of the university feliciated  Mukherjee with the honorary doctorate degree.