KATHMANDU, March 16: A fire that broke out Sunday midnight at Bagalamukhi temple in Lalitpur completely gutted the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, besides severely damaging walls and images on them.[break]
- Related News: Fire inside Bagalamukhi Temple
There were no prayers and offerings at the temple on Monday following damage to the sanctum sanctorum. It is likely that prayers and offerings in one of the most revered temples in Kathmandu Valley will not be possible for next few days due to the damages caused.
A large number of locals have gathered at the temple premises to inspect damages at the temple.
"This is a bad omen," said Gopal Shrestha, 90, a local.
The fire broke out at the temple due to electric shot-circuit failure at about 12 am, Monday. Security guard at the temple came to know about the blazing fire inside the temple only at 12:18 am and subsequently informed priests and locals.
But the blazing fire destroyed almost all important artifacts inside the temple by the time it was completely extinguished.
Binod Bhujel, who has been serving as assistant to the main priest in the temple for the past 16 years, said the fire was completely doused with the help of locals, fire brigades that came from Lalitpur and Kathmandu, and local police at about 1 a.m.
Bikash Karki
Bhujel said the fire induced by electric failure caught the temple through its oily, wooden planks.
"The fire was doused by police and locals after we were informed about the incident at around 12:15 am on Monday," Superintendent of Police Kedar Man Singh Bhandari, chief of Metropolitan Police Range Office, Lalitpur, said.
He said that there were about 300 oil-fed lamps on both sides of the place where priests worship inside the temple. All the oil lamps and some cupboards, among other goods, were gutted by fire.
Police have cordoned off the temple to prepare a report about the damages.
The current structure of the temple was developed by then Prime Minister Bhim SJB Rana in 1988 BS. This is the first time the temple has been completely destroyed, though a major earthquake in 1990 BS had partially damaged the temple.
Bikash Karki
A large number of people, especially lovebirds, visited the temple often described as Manakamana of Kathmandu Valley, every Thursday to get their wishes materialized. An equally large number of people visited the temple on Saturdays.
Thursday is considered the most auspicious day to visit the temple that is considered the master of Jupiter. It is believed that blessing from the goddess wards off evil spells.
There is also a popular belief among people that the goddess Bagalamukhi also helps people get justice.
Locals are apprehensive that the fire could be a bad omen, especially because another fire broke out in the adjoining Kumbheshwor Mahadev Temple at about 2:30 pm, Sunday. The fire that started from an oil-fed lamp was doused soon after it broke out, avoiding any significant damage to the temple.
koshraj@myrepublica.com
