The Yamaleshwor temple at Ranipokhari, which is opened only for Bhai Tika every year, will remain closed on the day this year as the temple has been badly damaged by the April 25 earthquake.

Traditionally, brothers who do not have sisters go to temple in Ranipokhari, located at the heart of the city, on the day to receive Bhai Tika.

“We can’t allow visitors to enter the temple as it is risky to get there. The doors will be closed,” said KMC Chief Rudra Singh Tamang.

In addition, the upcoming Chhath festival, which is celebrated at Ranipokhari is also going to be affected this year.

Hari Sharan KC, KMC Unit in-charge for Ratna Park and Ranipokhari, said they have already printed pictures of the temple and the goddess and kept them outside for the connivance of visitors. “Priests will be allowed to offer Tika to visitors staying at the temple entrance,” he said.

People, however, complained that the problem was created due to KMC’s inability to reconstruct the temple.

The metropolitan officials, meanwhile, said they failed to repair it due to budget crunch and ongoing fuel crisis. “As the reconstruction work needs detailed study, KMC’s Heritage Section has been making an action plan,” KC said.

Prior to the earthquake, KMC’s Environment Department had announced that it will renovate Ranipokhari with various decorations as well as greenery and open it for the public. However, the plan has not been materialised yet. Before the Saarc Summit last year, the government had allocated over Rs 1million for renovating the landmark but some of the amount had remained unused. Tamang said around Rs 100 million is required to reconstruct the temple.

The historic temple was built in 1670 by King Pratap Malla, one of the influential rulers of the Malla dynasty, to console his queen heartbroken at the death of her son.

According to a legend, the water in the pond was collected from various holy sites and river confluences of Nepal and India.