About Banaskhandi Devi Temple
EN
The Banaskhandi Devi Temple is located in Hetauda-2, approximately 1.5 km northeast of Hetauda Bazaar. Historically, during the unification of Nepal, King Prithvi Narayan Shah's Gorkhali forces defeated the King of Makwanpur, Digbandhan Sen (the brother-in-law of Prithvi Narayan Shah), on Bhadra 1, 1819 V.S.; even after Digbandhan Sen sought help from Mir Qasim of Bengal to fight back, Prithvi Narayan Shah emerged victorious again on Magh 10, 1819 V.S. For state security, ascetics (Jogis) were kept in this forest as spies, among whom a Jogi named 'Banaskhandi' used to worship a stone as a goddess; because this place of worship was situated in a fragmented (Khanda-Khanda) forest, it was named Banaskhandi, where locals later started performing annual worship. Currently, temples of Ganesha, Devi, Vindhyabasini, and Shiva have been constructed here, along with a large, attractive "Om" (ॐ) symbol made of cement, and being at the edge of the forest, it offers a cool, peaceful, and pleasant natural environment. Around the year 2055 V.S., a committee was formed under Chairman Homanath Lamichhane and Vice-Chairman Kedar Prasad Neupane, and a single-story temple was built under the leadership of local Prithviman Shrestha; later, with assistance from the DDC, Municipality, Tourism Department, and devotees, various constructions were completed, transforming it into a religious tourist destination and a venue for picnics, weddings, bratabandhas, and seminars where chairs, utensils, and firewood from the community forest can be rented. Annually, on the day of Ashwin Shukla Saptami (Fulpati), Fulpati is brought from the banks of the Rapti River, paraded around the market, and brought into the deity's shrine, during which a salute is received by the district chief and presented by the Nepali Army.
