Indian President Pranab Mukherjee visits famous Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, offers special Puja

Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday visited the famous Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu and performed special Puja. The Indian president is on a three-day state visit to Nepal.

Mukherjee, who reached the temple amid tight security, performed the pooja by lighting 'lakh batti' (100,000 wicks) and sprinkling 'Panchamrita' (a sacred mixture of fiveingredients including milk, curd, honey, sugar and ghee).

He was welcomed by 108 Batuk (Hindu boys) chanting'Swasti mantras' amid musical resonance of panchai baja andthime baja (traditional musical instruments) after enteringthrough the main eastern gate of Pashupatinath Temple.

The temple, which is a UNESCO heritage site, is visitedby thousands of Hindus from across the world.

As part of the preparations to welcome the IndianPresident, the temple premises were decorated with colourfulflowers.       

Meanwhile, security has been tightened in the adjoining areas. Mukherjee arrived for a three-day state-visit to Nepal on Wednesday at the invitation of President Bidya Devi Bhandari. He is the first Indian president to visit Nepal in 18 years.