Quake mourning period ends

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Thousands of Nepalese, many dressed in white, offered prayers and flowers at home and in temples Thursday in a Hindu ritual marking the end of a 13-day mourning period for those killed in the country’s massive earthquake.

Families and friends also published condolence messages with photographs of victims in local newspapers.

Thousands of mourners gathered amid 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 7,800 people and injured 15,000. The main ceremony was held in the ruins of Kastamandap, a temple for 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,” said Alok Shrestha, a banker holding a bouquet of marigolds.

Lawmakers in Nepal’s constituent assembly also stood for a minute of silence in memory of the dead.

During the customary mourning period, close family members stay at home, do not touch outsiders and refrain from eating salt. No entertainment is allowed.

About 500 people gathered at Kathmandu’s historic center, Basantapur Durbar Square, where temples were reduced to rubble, to offer prayers. In the evening, 2,000 mourners carrying candles gathered near Dharahara Tower, which collapsed in the earthquake. With a 213-step spiral staircase, it once offered a panoramic view of the capital.

The central bank announced that people whose houses were damaged in the quake can obtain loans at a 2 percent interest rate. The average commercial loan rate is about 10 percent.

Bhimsen Das Shrestha, a lawmaker representing Kathmandu, said the government should introduce new rules to make buildings earthquake-resistant.

“When we rebuild the structures in Kathmandu, we need to consider new technologies in earthquakeprone areas,” he said.