Holy Kailash and Manasarover - Pradosham in Nepal

Evening of 9th June 2006

As we were returning from Mahakamna temple we realised that we may not reach Kathmandu before 8.00 PM. So, the Pashupathinath temple at Kathmandu would be closed by the time.

We sought the help of our bus driver to stop at any Shiva Temple on the way, to enable our group to perform Pradosha puja. The entire bus was expectantly waiting for the sight of a Shiva temple.

Lord Shiva loves ablution ( Evening of 9th June 2006)

As we were returning from Mahakamna temple we realised that we may not reach Kathmandu before 8.00 PM. So, the Pashupathinath temple at Kathmandu would be closed by the time.

We sought the help of our bus driver to stop at any Shiva Temple on the way, to enable our group to perform Pradosha puja. The entire bus was expectantly waiting for the sight of a Shiva temple.

Lord Shiva loves ablution (abhisheka), which seems in consonance with his personality as the Supreme Ascetic or Mahayogi. And at Pradosha duration Lord Shiva is said to dance his "Anandha Tandavam" , the divine Dance of Joy and happiness that keeps the Universe going.

At around 4.00 PM the bus stopped at a small shiva temple on the way and everyone got down from the bus. There was excitement all around when we spotted a water source just behind the temple.

The pet bottles became handy as we drew water for the abhishekam. Swamiji in our group performed the abhishekam as the group sang shiva bhajans and stotrams. Bilva leaves were found with our driver who said that the previous day a group had forgotten to take them, as if to be used for the Pradhosha pooja. Agarbathis were lit and Mangala Aarthi was performed.

To cap it all for the Naivedyam (offering of food) we found Cadbury's chocolates which were distributed to the Children who had gathered on seeing us.