President Bidya Devi Bhandari has said that religions and cultures convey moral message to maintain national unity.

Inaugurating Shashwat Dham constructed by Chaudhary Foundation in Dumkauli of Nawalparasi district on Tuesday, President Bhandari said such a pilgrimage site could be very important to promote compassion and goodwill. The head of the state highlighted unity in cultural and religious diversities as Nepal’s identity.

Chairman of the foundation Binod Chaudhary, founder of Art of Living Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Rastriya Prajatantra Party Chairman Kamal Thapa and religious leaders from Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia, among other countries, also attended the function. Soon after President Bhandari returned from Shashwatdham following the inauguration of Ekambareshwor Shiva Temple, former king Gyanendra Shah arrived on the dham premises and inaugurated Sarbadharma Sabha, assembly of leaders of Hindu, Buddhism and Muslim faiths.

It took about 15 years to build Shashwatdham that houses Shiva temple, a library, religious museum, Yoga hall and Gurukul for students of sanskrit language.