Mass Volunteer Campaign Surges at Nilbarahi Amid Government Negligence and Rumors

Bhaktapur – A mass public labor donation (janashramdan) campaign aimed at preserving the historic, religious, and popular local tourism site of Nilbarahi Temple in Madhyapur Thimi Municipality–9 has been gathering significant public participation for the past ten weeks. However, this grassroots movement seems to have become a “headache” for the local government.

According to Anish Vaidya, Secretary of the Nilbarahi Area Conservation Concern Committee, “Whenever we go to raise awareness in a neighborhood, municipal representatives show up the next day to try and undermine our efforts. They spread rumors like ‘the municipality has already brought in millions in budget, so there’s no need to contribute.’”

Vaidya also accused the district branch of the Nepali Congress party of directly trying to sabotage the campaign. “However, the CPN-UML and the Nepal Majdoor Kisan Party (NMKP) have already expressed their support,” he added.

While Municipality Stays Silent, People Actively Participate
Every Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday, the campaign sees the participation of 3,000 to 4,000 people in a single day. What began with around 100 volunteers has now grown into a mass movement of thousands.

Devotees, local residents, and volunteers are seen leveling soil, improving drainage, building embankments, planting grass and trees to prevent landslides, and carrying earth for restoration work.

According to Satyaram Kasichhaka, a teacher involved in the campaign, “We’ve come from Bhaktapur in groups of hundreds to volunteer. Since the budget promised in the plans only exists on paper, and with fears that the temple area might be washed away by monsoon floods, we’ve taken to the streets.”

‘Millions in Budget’ – Where Did It Go?:

Alongside the labor effort, the committee has also been collecting donations under the slogan “Let’s save the people’s heritage with the people’s money.” Over NPR 10 million (1 crore) has already been raised. Locals have even started bringing their own snacks, and now the committee is also managing food for volunteers.

Despite being situated in Ward 9, the committee complains that neither the ward chairperson nor any municipal officials have provided support. Vaidya again emphasized the allegation that the district Nepali Congress party is actively working to sabotage the initiative. “Still, the UML and NMKP have shown their support,” he reiterated.

Religious, Cultural, and Environmental Crisis:

The Nilbarahi Temple sits on a hilltop spanning over 500 ropanis of land and is highly vulnerable to landslides and monsoon rains. Previously, it had been protected with plastic sheets, but now it is being safeguarded through the devotion and labor of locals.

Nilbarahi is one of the four main Barahi temples in the Kathmandu Valley. It is not only a sacred religious site but also a symbol of Newa cultural identity. The area also serves as a local tourist attraction for picnics and recreational outings. For many residents, it’s a source of income. Yet the site has long been neglected by the municipality.

Municipality’s Claims vs. Local Frustration:

While the municipality claims to have allocated millions of rupees in previous years, there has been no visible progress on the ground. With development plans limited to paperwork, locals say they were compelled to initiate the "Save Nilbarahi Campaign" themselves.

When state mechanisms move slowly, public consciousness awakens. The ongoing public labor campaign for the conservation of the Nilbarahi area is a testament to this. But attempts by the local government to demoralize such an inspiring grassroots movement are troubling. If things continue this way, it may ultimately be the will and labor of the people—not the municipality’s multimillion-rupee plans—that save Nilbarahi.