Nepal on war footing to greet Saarc leaders

Kathmandu, Jan 3: Nepal’s capital was on a “war footing” — on Thursday not as part of its battle against Maoist rebels, but in a race against time to clear mountains of rubbish and construct a massive religious ornament for a summit of South Asian leaders.

Kathmandu has mobilised hundreds of labourers, including civilians living along the ceremonial drive that will be used by leaders attending the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) summit which opens on Friday.

City planning commission member Amrit M. Shrestha said the city was working overtime to project a “clean” image as heads of state of government from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka arrive here. “All the people are working on a war footing,” Mr Shresth said as he stopped at a busy intersection where 120 workers were building a massive religious symbol that is expected to bring good luck to South Asian leaders and Nepal.

Artists decorating convention centre on the eve of Saarc summit in Kathmandu on Thursday. PTI photo

At least 11 homes were demolished to build the “Ashta Madal “ — an octagon-shaped Hindu religious structure covering a space of 25-by-25 metres and rising by a couple of feet at the centre. The structure is surrounded by a moat and includes several Hindu symbols — marked with crushed metal dyed in blue, green, red, yellow, orange, black and white — strategically placed to bring good luck to the nation as well as those passing by.

The structure has a “perpetual fountain” and on one side has small statues of the Buddha, who was born in Nepal and is revered in the predominantly Hindu kingdom. The elaborate structure has cost 40 million nepalese rupees with 33.7 million rupees as compensation for the 11 buildings that had to be pulled down.

The designer of the new city landmark, Bipin Chitrakar, said the city’s mayor, Keshar Staphit, wanted a beautiful structure that would bring good luck to the people and hit on the idea of the holy octagon. Mr Chitrakar supervised as workmen brought sods of grass to build a carpet of green around the ornament before the VIPs pass by.

The regional leaders — who include Buddhists, Hindus and Muslims — are not expected to visit the new religious symbol, but could still receive its blessings while driving past on their way to the opening of the summit. (Agencies)