Modi to offer 2,500 kg of sandalwood to Pashupatinath temple

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi will Monday offer 2,500 kg of white Indian sandalwood to the Pashupatinath temple after performing a special puja.

"We are pleased to announce that Indian prime minister is handing over 2.5 tons of white sandalwood to Pashupatinath temple. The sandalwood would cost around Rs.30 million," Govinda Tondon, member secretary of Pashupatinath Area Development Trust (PADT), told IANS Saturday.

This has come as a huge relief to the temple management committee as it needs at least half kg of white sandalwood to make a paste for Shiva Linga.

"The sandalwood was first received by the Indian Embassy and later handed to the Trust Friday. A special programme will be organized to receive the sandalwood by the Indian PM," he said.

The PADT has said that almost all preparations for the prayer has been completed and some procedure will be completed by Sunday evening.

Offering Puja Monday and Shrawan is considered as auspicious.

Pashupatinath temple needs huge amount of sandalwood on a daily basis.

Every day, priests at Pashupatinath temple apply at least half kg of Chandan around the Shiva Linga at the temple.

The PADT had made a request to Indian Embassy in Kathmandu to provide sandalwood for conducting puja in the temple.

The Indian government had offered 500 kg of sandalwood at Pashupatinath temple some years ago.

(Anil Giri can be contacted at girianil@gmail.com)