Kathmandu, : Guru Purnima, a festival of the Hindus, was observed today by paying respect and expressing devotion to teachers.

The Hindus consider their teachers to be equivalent to God.

In the scriptural texts, teachers have been compared with the Hindu trinity of Brahma, Bishnu and Maheshwar.

Hindus invoke the Guru while starting any new venture in the belief that no knowledge or deed will attain completion in the absence of the teacher.

In ancient times, disciples used to go to the Gurukul to acquire knowledge. But the tradition has changed with the changing times.

Similarly, on the occasion of Guru Poornima or Vyas Jayanti, the Sanskrit Service Council paid its respects to three Gurus or teachers at their respective homes.

Those who were offered respect are eminent historian Pandit Nayaraj Pant (88 years old), grammarian and eminent scholar Pandit Ram Chandra Paudel (86) and vedic scholar Pandit Som Nath Paudel.

Flower garlands were put round their necks and coconuts were given as a token of respect.

The council has started the practice of showing respect to Gurus with the objective of restoring this liberal cultural tradition.

Those participating on the occasion were council chairman Rewati Raman Khanal, vice chairman Madhu Sudan Dhakal, general secretary Sri Kanta Sharma Pokhrel, treasurer Ambika Bhakta Adhikari, secretary Ram Krishna Pant and members Bishwonath Rupakheti, Basudev Sharma Toofan, Bhuwaneshor Gautam and Bhairab Risal