Mahottari, Feb. 25: The ancient Laxmi Narayan Temple at Simardahi village of Mahottari district believed to be hundreds of years old is lying in a dilapidated condition for lack of renovation and maintenance as it has no  source of income of its own.

A religious trust for the upkeep of the temple was set up around 1816 Bikram era during the time of King Girvana Yuddha Bir Bikram Shah Dev and 176 bigha of land  allocated to it.

Although the temple trust owns a lot of property, lack of income from the property has resulted in paucity of funds for even conducting regular worship and religious offerings, according to temple priest Narayan Das.

He said the Janakpur Trust was collecting the income of the temple from 96 bigha of land it owns at Simardahi VDC and 75 bigaha at Khattapiparathi VDC.

He added that an additional 20 bigaha in Khattapiparathi village is registered in the name of his late father Dev Narayan Das, a former head priest. Income from the land was being used for the upkeep of the temple.

Worried about the deteriorating condition of this temple of religious and historical significance in spite of its vast property, the local people have been demanding its renovation and maintenance.

Meanwhile in Terhathum, the construction of a Buddhist monastery has begun at local Nagi Dada of   Hyanku village on the occasion of the 1836th Lhosar festival of the Tamu (Gurung) Community. The monastery is being constructed on the initiatives of the Nepal Tamu Chhojha Dhi Association, Athrai.  The monastery would be constructed in two years at an estimated cost of Rs 200,000, according to the association.