Kathmandu: As Shivaratri, the festival of Lord Shiva and one of Nepal’s major rituals, dawns closer, there is mounting tension in the kingdom with King Gyanendra’s diehard supporters having announced they will organise a march of naked sadhus through the capital’s main roads.
The architect of the proposed rally is Bharat Keshar Simha, a former army general and palace aide de camp who supported king Gyanendra’s coup two years ago and since the monarch’s ouster last year has been trying to woo India’s pro-Hindutva organisations into saving the monarchy from being abolished in Nepal.
Under the banner of his World Hindu Federation, a once religious outfit that became active politically after King Gyanendra’s ascension, the staunch royalist plans to bring at least 2,000 Indian Naga sadhus — famed for disdaining to wear anything more than a loin cloth — to raise the cry for a Hindu kingdom in Nepal.
The Naga babas, as they are reverently called in Nepal, are a regular visitors to the Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu during Shivaratri each year, along with droves of other Indian holy men and pilgrims. Smeared in sacred ash and often seen sharing an opium joint with foreign tourists or praying in difficult yogic postures, the Naga sadhus add colour to the Shivaratri celebrations.

However, this time there is mounting concern after reports that the king’s men will try to create anarchy under the guise of the rally. With the Nagas known for their short fuse and recklessness, it is feared they will retaliate with lightning speed, triggering an orgy of arson and looting.
While Shivaratri falls on Friday, the WHF has announced it will lead the rally on Sunday, marching from the Pashupatinath temple to Singhdurbar, the heart of Nepal’s government where the prime minister’s office, parliament and a host of important ministries is located.
Leading politicians are expressing concerns over the rally. Besides deputy prime minister Amik Sherchan, now Madhav Kumar Nepal, chief of the second largest party in the government, the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist, warned of foul play.
“Thousands of people are coming from outside Nepal,” the communist leader said. “The rally is likely to snowball into another Hrithik Roshan incident.”
The Indian business community in Nepal has been panicky since 2000, when anti-Nepal remarks falsely attributed to Hrithik Roshan created riots with looters targeting Indian businesses. Nepal’s home ministry said it will not ban the rally.

via Times of India