Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) on Sunday bade farewell to around 4,000 Sadhus who had come to the holy temple of Pashupatinath in the Capital to celebrate the Mahashivaratri festival.

PADT Member-Secretary Govinda Tandon said the departing sadhus were offered ‘Dakshina’ (donation) for gracing the festival by their presence. The Sadhus were offered the dakshina ranging from Rs101 to Rs5,000 on the basis of the cards provided by Guthi Sanstan.

The PADT adds as much money provided by the Guthi Sansthan while bidding farewell to the holy men who come from across the country and as far as from India.

The Guthi Sansthan categorizes Sadhus into seven classes based on which the dakshina is doled out.

Guthi Sanshtan informed that it has so far extended Rs 494,000 for arranging firewood to the Sadhus. The Sadhus make bonfire and spend the night around it on the day of Mahashivaratri. Guthi Sansthan said it would make public its other expenditures soon. Likewise, PADT has distributed Rs 690,000 to the Sadhus.

It is learnt that the culture of welcoming and bidding farewell to the Sadhus by offering them Dakshina during Mahashivaratri dates back to the regime of Junga Bahadur’s sons who set up Gtuhi Sansthan for the purpose.