A day of temple visits for the Prime Minister

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi performs rituals at Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu, Nepal, Saturday, May 12, 2018. Modi began a two-day visit to Nepal Friday as the two South Asian nations work to improve relations that were strained over Indian-backed ethnic protests in Nepal in 2015.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday prayed at Nepal’s iconic Muktinath temple regarded sacred by both Hindus and Buddhists, becoming the first world leader to offer prayers there.

Mr. Modi also offered prayers at the Pashupatinath temple, located on the banks of the Bagmati river. The Pashupatinath temple is regarded as the most sacred and oldest temple of Shiva (Pashupati) in Nepal.

After offering prayers at the Pashupatinath temple, Mr. Modi signed the visitor’s book and was presented a miniature replica of the temple. “Jai Pashupatinath! Feeling blessed after praying at the majestic Pashupatinath Temple in Kathmandu,” Mr. Modi said in a tweet. Earlier, in the morning, Mr. Modi offered prayers at the Muktinath temple in Mustang district near the Nepal-China border.

Warm welcome

Mr. Modi was accorded a warm welcome by the people of the remote Himalayan region. He spent nearly half an hour in the temple. It is a great example to the world of a sacred place shared in harmony by devotees of two world religions.

Mr. Modi took the holy water from 108 stone watertaps in the temple premises and took

pradakshina (circumambulating around the holy temple). Muktinath is one of the most important pilgrimage sites of Nepal for both Buddhists and Hindus.

“Spent a blessed morning at Muktinath. This land is spiritual and serene. From the Muktinath Temple visit. I thank the people for their affection,” Mr. Modi tweeted with photos of him praying at the temple.

The local administration had put in place a special security plan to make Mr. Modi’s visit safe and systematic.