Rebuilt Marbhungkot temple inaugurated by IGP Karki

Inspector General of Police Danbahadur Karki inaugurated the rebuilt Khadak Bhagwati Marbhungkot temple at Marbhung, Malika Rural Municipality-8, Gulmi, on Sunday. The temple, believed to be around 500 years old, lies in IGP Karki's home district.

Karki was the chief guest at the ceremony, chaired by temple management committee chairperson Manbahadur Thapa. During the inauguration, he said the temple was the fruit of ancestors' hard work and a living school that inspires the new generation.

He said coordination among all three tiers of government and stakeholders was needed to build roads, drinking water, toilets, and resting places in the area, which has potential for religious tourism.

Calling it a contradiction that injustice against women persists in a society that worships goddesses, he stressed the need to end malpractices such as domestic violence, witchcraft accusations, chhaupadi, dowry, and child marriage.

According to chairperson Thapa, the temple's conservation and religious activities will be better managed following the reconstruction. Malika Rural Municipality chairperson Devi Ram Aryal, along with the chairpersons of Madane, Dhurkot and Isma rural municipalities, were also present at the programme. The District Police Office, Gulmi, said 64 police personnel were deployed to manage the event.