Umbrella, plastic and raincoats banned in Muktinath springs

By Hari Krishna Sharma,Muktinath (Mustang), Nov. 24:  Now onwards, no devotees are allowed to use umbrellas, plastic and raincoats while bathing at the 108 springs of the Muktinath Temple. Likewise, they cannot use swimming attire while diving into the two ponds on the temple premises.  

The ban was imposed after videos with some devotees bathing with umbrella and raincoats in the holy springs went viral in social sites. 

Muktinath is an important pilgrimage site for both Hindus and Buddhists. Annually, over 800,000 pilgrims visit the Muktinath Temple located in Mustang.  The ban is expected to control the use of unusual attire while bathing in the 108 springs located near the temple. 

Pramesh Gurung, Treasurer of the Muktinath Development Committee and Ward Chair of Varagung Muktichhetra Rural Municipality–1, said that the devotees entering the temple area are being informed about the rules and encouraged to follow religious traditions.

“We have been warning those who violate the rules. Those who cannot bathe may simply have darshan,” said Gurung.

He added that infrastructure expansion and new facilities have been added to make the visit easier for devotees and tourists, and again requested that all visitors follow the prescribed rules.

Ward Chairman Gurung said that volunteers will assist and monitor the temple area to manage darshan and visitors' movement.

Meanwhile, the committee is set to increase the height of the 108 water taps using collected donations. To address injuries caused when devotees hit their heads or foreheads on the taps, a budget has been allocated for this purpose in the committee’s annual meeting for the fiscal year 2025/26.

The committee has allocated over Rs. 50 million from annual donations to develop infrastructure in various locations, including the Muktinath Temple complex, Kagbeni, and Damodar Kunda.

It is believed that visiting Muktinath, performing puja, and bathing in its waters fulfills one’s inner desires. Hindus believe that one can attain salvation by visiting Muktinath once and bathing in its 108 streams and ponds, regardless of where they are in the world.

According to Hindu scriptures, Lord Brahma performed a yogic sacrifice at Muktinath to attain salvation.

As per the Buddhist tradition, religious texts mention that a Buddhist scholar from Tibet visited Mount Kailash, collected water from there, and created the 108 water fountains at Muktinath, said priest Krishna Prasad Subedi.

Subedi added that bathing in the sacred streams and ponds following religious rituals fulfill the wishes of devotees.

The temple, located at an altitude of 3,610 meters above sea level, has five donation boxes placed inside and outside the temple premises. Donations from Nepali and foreign pilgrims—collected through receipt-based offerings and donation boxes—amount to more than Rs. 110 million annually.