“Chhema Puja” was performed at Hiranyavarna Mahavihar and Digi Chhen, Lalitpur by the Local community as a ritual of “asking forgiveness” before the start of restoration work. The puja was attended by officials from the Embassy of India in Kathmandu, Central Level Project Implementation Unit, Govt of Nepal & INTACH Kathmandu. The Mahavihar is being reconstructed at a cost of Nrs. 181 million.
Hiranyavarna Mahavihar popularly also known as the Golden temple is situated in the monument zone of Patan Darbar square a UNESCO World Heritage site in Lalitpur which is one of the most important Buddhist temple monasteries of Patan.
It is one of the 28 cultural heritage projects being undertaken under GoI grant assistance of USD 50 million for Post-Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation of cultural heritage sites in Nepal. Seven cultural heritage projects are being reconstructed in the Lalitpur district of which work on five projects are ongoing.
