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Kathmandu. It is customary to open the Balagopaleshwor temple located at Ranipokhari in Kathmandu on the day of Bhai Tika for those who do not have sisters or brothers. The temple, which opens only once a year on the day of Bhai Tika, is where individuals without sisters or brothers perform puja, darshan, and apply tika. Kathmandu Metropolitan City Spokesperson Nabin Manandhar informed that all necessary preparations have been completed to open the Balagopaleshwor temple for devotees from early Wednesday morning. Similarly, at the Khanjneshwor Mahadev temple in Jayabageshwori, there is a tradition for those without sisters or brothers to perform puja, darshan, and apply tika. According to cultural expert and Guthi Sansthan Chairman Dr. Govinda Tandon, until before 2035 BS, there was a problem of people jumping into Ranipokhari to enter the Balagopaleshwor temple, after which the temple used to be closed. 'At that time, brothers without sisters and sisters without brothers used to gather at the Khanjneshwor Mahadev temple in Jayabageshwori,' Tandon said, 'Even now, there is a crowd of devotees there on the day of Bhai Tika.' After 2035 BS, the Balagopaleshwor temple inside Ranipokhari started opening regularly. After the temple was damaged by the earthquake of April 12, 2072 BS, devotees without sisters or brothers used to go to the Khanjneshwor Mahadev temple until 2077 BS. The Balagopaleshwor temple, reconstructed after the earthquake, was reopened for devotees from 2077 BS. The Newar community celebrates Bhai Tika as Kija Puja. In the Newar community, some perform Kija Puja today according to their family tradition, while others do it the previous day. Most of the Newar community in Bhaktapur has already performed Kija Puja yesterday. It is said that the Newar community in Bhaktapur performed Kija Puja yesterday according to the decision of the priest and astrologer of the Taleju temple there.
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