Thousands of Nepalese pray, mourn for earthquake victims

Thousands of people dressed in white offered prayers, flowers and lit incense at home and in temples Thursday as part of a Hindu ritual marking the end of a 13-day mourning period for those killed in the massive earthquake. Families and friends also published condolence messages with photographs of victims in local newspapers. The mourners assembled amid the piles of stones, mud, bricks and wooden beams that once formed centuries-old temples, palaces and structures toppled in the April 25 quake, which killed more than 7,750 people. The main ceremony was held in the ruins of Kastamandap, a temple after which the capital, Kathmandu, was named.

There are so many people and so many buildings we have all lost in the earthquake. I am here to show my support for these families and to say that we are all here for you.

Nepali Alok Shrestha

During the customary 13-day mourning period, close family members stay at home, do not touch outsiders and refrain from eating salt. No entertainment is allowed. Nearly 500 people gathered at Kathmandu’s historic center, Basantapur Durbar Square, whose temples were reduced to rubble, to offer prayers. Meanwhile, Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank, announced that people whose houses were damaged could get loans at only 2 percent interest rate. The average commercial loan rate is about 10 percent. Police say about one-third of Kathmandu’s population of 700,000 had left the city since the earthquake. Many others have moved in with relatives, while some are staying in tents in open areas.

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