100,000 lamps lit in Myagdi to celebrate Ram Temple consecration

By Thakur Prasad Acharya,Myagdi (Beni), Jan. 23: The Galeshwor Shivalaya Area Development Trust and the Beni Municipality have lit 100,000 lamps (Lakhbatti) on the banks of the Kaligandaki River at Galeshwordham, Myagdi on Monday to mark the consecration of Lord Ram in the newly built temple at Ayodhya, India.

Last year, two Shaligram boulders were taken from the river for the Ayodhya temple. The part of the river they were taken from has been named Shree Ram Ghat. The 100,000 lamps were lit at the Ghat at the pre-determined auspicious time of 12.29 pm in the presence of Yogi Jagadguru Himalaya Baba.

A procession of pilgrims travelled from the Galeshwor Temple playing music and singing religious hymns and reached the Shree Ram Ghat to light the lamps.

On the occasion, Mayor of Beni Municipality Surat KC told The Rising Nepal that the local government planned to develop the Ghat as a destination for religious tourists. The area is already known as the entrance to the Hindu and Buddhist pilgrimage site of Muktinath.

"We plan to build infrastructure and develop the area as a religious destination," he said.

Meanwhile, Himalaya Baba said that the intention behind lighting the hundred thousand lamps was to establish Kaligandaki as a holy river and to inform devotees travelling to Kagbeni, Muktinath and Damodar Kunda of the virtues of bathing in it. 

"Two boulders taken from this river have been placed in the sanctum sanctorum of the new Ram Temple," the Baba said, adding, "We intended to spread a message of religion and harmony by lighting the lamps here."