Kathmandu, February 26: President Ram Chandra Poudel has said that the presence of the holy Pashupatinath region in Nepal is a matter of pride not only for us but also for all Hindus. Wishing happiness, peace and prosperity to all Nepali sisters and brothers living at home and abroad on the occasion of Mahashivaratri festival, 2081, he said, “The relationship of Lord Shiva with the land of Nepal is described in various Vedic texts. The presence of the holy Pashupatinath region in Nepal is a matter of pride not only for us but also for all Hindus.”
He mentioned that the faith and belief related to Shiva has been continuously reflected in the eternal culture existing within many religious sects of our country, and said that Nepal has always been a center of spiritual contemplation for devotees from all over the world who believe in the venerable Lord Shri Pashupatinath and Kirateswar Mahadev as the true forms of Shiva.
“Although Shiva is considered to be the power of destruction in Vedic tradition, Shiva Shakti contains both gentle and fierce forms, which equally represent the creative and destructive power of nature,” he said. “The gentle power awakens the human consciousness to the good side and motivates us to accept only that, which is why the ancient proverb ‘Satyam Shiva Sundaram’ exists.”
The evil power punishes the consequences of bad choices. Thus, like many of our cultural festivals, Mahashivaratri uniquely reveals the fact that humanity should choose its path of progress only through good cooperation with nature, he says. He said that waterless fasting, night vigils, four-hour worship, and Shiva Mahima Kirtan are considered the main parts of Shivaratri worship, and there is a religious belief that observing Shivaratri leads to the attainment of both yoga and salvation.
“On this auspicious occasion of Mahashivaratri, we must pledge to properly preserve and promote the cultural and religious heritages in various parts of the country, including the Pashupatinath region,” he said. “It is our responsibility to hand over the heritage we have received to the future generations in its original form. It is the responsibility of all of us to keep the Bagmati River, which is the watershed of the Kathmandu Valley, clean and tidy.”
President Poudel has expressed his best wishes that the Mahashivratri festival, 2081, may shed a new light of spiritual awakening in all of our lives.
Festivals have helped in maintaining national spirit: Chairman Deuba
Nepali Congress chairman and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that festivals have helped in maintaining unity in diversity and upholding the national spirit.
Expressing best wishes on the occasion of ‘Mahashivratri’, which is celebrated by Hindus with great devotion by worshipping Lord Shiva, he said that festivals including Mahashivratri, which inspire the protection and promotion of religious and cultural treasures in various communities, have helped in maintaining harmonious relations among Nepalis of all castes, religions, classes and professions.
On the occasion of Mahashivaratri, chairman Deuba, on behalf of himself and his party, the Nepali Congress, has expressed his best wishes for happiness, peace, and prosperity to all Hindu Nepali brothers and sisters at home and abroad.
