Kathmandu. Serious questions and concerns have recently been raised regarding the operation of daily musical and religious Aarti, administrative regulation, and overall security management in the sacred Pashupatinath Temple complex, a UNESCO World Heritage site. A debate over administrative fairness has erupted following allegations that the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) unilaterally terminated the service of an organization operating in accordance with rules and procedures—including paying fixed monthly rent and providing a bank guarantee—while allowing another group to continue operating without any financial contribution or fixed timeframe in the temple premises. The contrasting standards adopted by the Trust regarding the operation of two different Aartis appear to reveal a serious double standard in the temple's financial regulation, religious-cultural dignity, and security management.

Looking at regulation and financial accountability, Budhasubba Digital Pvt. Ltd., which was entrusted with operating the Sandhya Aarti, had signed an official 5-year agreement with the Trust to pay Rs 1,60,000 per month (excluding Value Added Tax), provided a 6-month advance deposit and bank guarantee, and was live-broadcasting the Aarti within a fixed timeframe. However, citing a decision from April 27, 2026 (Baisakh 15, 2083 BS), the Trust unilaterally canceled the agreement in August/September. According to Navaraj Giri, Chief Executive of Budhasubba, after investing over Rs 35 million and receiving no revenue because the Trust failed to provide approved rates for lighting lamps for devotees as per the contract, they were forced to seek legal remedy at the Patan High Court following the unilateral cancellation. On the other hand, according to Narayan Paudel, representative of the Ganga Aarti group operating from across the Bagmati River, their organization was registered with the District Administration Office in 2007/08 (B.S. 2064) and operates based on a permission letter issued on the Trust's letterhead during the tenure of the then Member-Secretary. According to Paudel, although the organization is regularly renewed, it pays no fees to the Trust, nor has the Trust requested any. Displacing an entity that routinely pays revenue while allowing a group with no financial conditions or time limits to continue reveals clear discrimination in administrative regulation.

Serious issues are also tied to the geographical and cultural aspects of the Aarti. Geographically, the main temple of Pashupatinath is situated on the western bank of the Bagmati River. The Sandhya Aarti operated by Budhasubba was performed facing east (from west to east), which is considered appropriate according to religious and scriptural traditions as it keeps the focus centered on the temple and the river. In contrast, the Ganga Aarti operates from across the Bagmati River (eastern bank) facing west. Performing the Aarti facing west directly fronts the Aryaghat and Bhasmeshwar Ghat, where cremations regularly take place. Whether conducting a sacred ritual like Aarti facing funeral pyres and turning one's back to the temple aligns with religious sanctity is a matter of recurring debate in the Pashupati area.

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In addition to operation and management, unwanted activities and security challenges have escalated within the temple premises. Budhasubba Digital has leveled serious allegations that the Ganga Aarti group disrupted their work and vandalized their cameras. Furthermore, even after their agreement period expired, unauthorized photographers and middlemen operating under the name 'Bhaleshwor Pvt. Ltd.' maintain an unwanted presence in the temple compound, continuing to extort money forcibly and behave rudely toward devotees. An incident a few months ago involving an attack on an Indian Army soldier by local individuals within the Pashupatinath premises raised major questions regarding overall security management and control of unwanted elements in the temple complex.

When responsible officials of the Pashupati Area Development Trust were approached regarding these overarching disputes, financial opacity, and double standards, administrative silence and ignorance were revealed. Trust Member-Secretary Tirtha Prasad Shrestha stated that since the lawsuit regarding Sandhya Aarti (Budhasubba) is sub-judice, the Trust will respond in court. Regarding the Ganga Aarti group, Shrestha claimed that since it predated his tenure, he did not know full details and suggested inquiring with the Information Officer, adding that whether they had received permission would become clear only after an investigation. However, repeated attempts to contact Trust Information Officer Surya Ranabhat by telephone for further clarity were unsuccessful. That an entity seeking to work within rules and procedures is forced to knock on court doors while unwanted activities and opaque operations continue in the temple premises casts serious scrutiny on the Trust's commitment to preserving the dignity of this World Heritage site.