GOVT TO MANAGE BHETI OF BIG TEMPLES

Kedar dahal 

Kathmandu, Jan 31

The government will manage bheti (money offered by devotees) of temples across the country with rising practice of locals and priests collecting bheti themselves but looking toward the government for repair and maintenance of the temples. The Ministry for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation states that the step is being taken to maintain transparency of bheti and end the practice of a handful of individuals getting fat due to income of temples.

Bheti of Pashupatinath Temple is being collected in a well-managed manner for the past three years. The Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) has been collecting hundreds of thousands a day with Rs 450 million already being collected after this provision. Bheti collected in 10 years earlier has now been collected in three years after the government implemented Temple and Puja Management Regulations in Pashupati.

The ministry is now focusing on other temples that attract a huge number of devotees. The ministry is going to emulate this model at other temples across the country. Working procedure is being prepared to manage bheti collected in Pathivara, Halesi, Janakpur Dham, temples in Kathmandu Valley, Manakamana, Swargadwari, Badimalika and other temples, according to the ministry. “Priests will be provided commission and salary in all these temples,” senior officer at the Culture Division of the ministry Jayanti Shrestha says.

The government has formed a committee under Joint Secretary at the ministry Bharat Mani Subedi to study about the matter. The committee also includes representatives from the PADT, and tourism and finance ministries. “Some money will be needed for the study and work will start immediately after the Finance Ministry provides money,” she adds. Bheti will be collected in Kalika Temple of Gorkha, Bindyabasini of Kaski, Budhanilkantha of Kathmandu, Changunarayan of Bhaktapur, Palanchowk Bhagawoti of Kavrepalanchowk, Bhimeshwore of Dolakha, Gadimai of Bara and other big temples as per the Pashuapti model. “The temples collect tens of millions a year but the government has to allocate money for repair and maintenance of temples. This decision has been taken as they always seek government help,” she reasons.

Priests and families have been traditionally collecting bheti. There have been problems in repair and maintenance of temples as the priests now are whimsically spending bheti, and even using that for individual purpose. The government has to annually spend hundreds of thousands in repair and maintenance of temples due to that. “The government would not have to allocate money if they had at least spent the money on repair and maintenance,” she argues.

Priests are recruited in the major temples across the country on the basis of heredity and tradition. Hundreds of thousands change hands during appointment of priests at many temples, while dispute about priests in many temples have even reached the court. The government is currently focusing only on Hindu temples but is preparing to manage bheti collected even in Buddhist monasteries.

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