WORSHIP HUT; BRAHMINS PRAYING; SACRIFICIAL FIRE; CROWN PRINCE OF NEPAL MARKING HEADS OF DEVOTEES.




Initials JGS/VS/MGT/JG



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Background: THE APPEARANCE OF THE RECENTLY DISCOVERED COMET IKEYA-SEKI HAS CAUSED UNREST AMONGST THE BRAHMINS OF NEPAL AND THEY HAVE HELD A SPECIAL SERVICE TO AVOID THE EVIL CONSEQUENCES WHICH THEY BELIEVE THE COMET MIGHT PRODUCE.

THE HINDU HOLY MEN BELIEVED THAT THE COMET WOULD BRING EVIL CONSEQUENCES TO THE EARTH AND DISASTER TO MANKIND. THEY ADVISED KING MAHENDRA OF NEPAL TO HOLD A SPECIAL SERVICE TO WORSHIP LORD SIVA TO WARD OFF THE DISASTER THAT THE COMET MIGHT BRING.

A SPECIAL SERVICE WAS HELD IN KATMANDU ON FRIDAY UNDER THE PERSONAL SUPERVISION OF CROWN PRINCE BIRENDRA AND 155 BRAHMINS WERE INVITED TO THE CAPITAL FOR A ROUND-THE-CLOCK WORSHIP.

LORD SIVA TOGETHER WITH LORD BRAHMA AND LORD VISHNU REPRESENT THE TRINITY OF THE HINDU RELIGION.