The winds of change that began sweeping through Nepal since 2006, transforming the world's only Hindu kingdom into a secular republic headed by former Maoist guerrillas, have now overtaken the biggest icon in the Himalayan nation - Lord Pashupatinath.

 

From next month, breaking away from a nearly 300-year-old tradition, the deity will be ceremonially worshipped by Nepali priests instead of priests brought from neighboring India. Since 1747, the kings of Nepal began engaging priests from southern India, known for its orthodoxy as well as knowledge of Hindu rituals.

 

Previously, the king was the patron of the temple development trust and the queen was its chief. However, after King Gyanendra failed to seize absolute power and the consequent pro-democracy movement, a new government under Maoist leadership was formed in Nepal. The new government brought down the earlier monarchical system and ousted the king and queen from the temple management.

 

Soon after that, the Satnamis, a sect that worship Hindu god Vishnu, began a movement to scrap the old tradition of employing Indian priests. Finally, heeding the growing demand, the three Indian priests handed over their resignations on Sunday (28^th December). Replacing Indian priests, two Nepali priests were appointed to shoulder the responsibility of worshipping the deity from next month.