29 shawan, Kathmandu: The religious fair that takes place each year at the Gokarneshwor Mahadev temple in the north east outskirt of Kathmandu on the new moon day in the month of Bhadra is not taking place this year. This year the event falls on August 19. On this day, people pay homage to their deceased father and ancestors by making offerings amidst special rituals called ‘shraddha.’ this day is also observed as Father’s Day on which occasion people offer delicacies and pay respects to their living fathers. Gokarneshwor municipality, ward no 4 chairman, Shree Kumar Shrestha, who is also the president of the Gokarneshwor Mahadev Temple Management Committee, said the religious fair had to be cancelled this year over COVID-19 risk. According to him, a meeting of the committee decided to close the temple on Father’s Day, Haritalika (Teej) and the Sohra Shraddha. The Gokarneshwor municipality has set up a permanent fund of Rs 7.5 million this year for conducting the daily puja at the temple. Athough events like religious fairs and ritualistic ceremonies in which there is large gathering of people have been banned in the temple premises due to the risk of corona-virus pandemic, the daily regular puja continues.
