Over 22 lakh devotees visit Purnagiri temple this year

BD Kasniyal

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Pithoragarh, June 16

The 83-day pilgrimage to Purnagiri at Tanakpur in Champawat district concluded today. Over a dozen officers and employees were felicitated on the occasion.

“Over 22 lakh devotees visited the temple this year. The district administration had made elaborate arrangements, despite the fact that most of the security personnel were busy managing the Ardh Kumbh traffic,” said Naresh Durgapal, Tanakpur SDM and mela officer designated for the Purnagiri mela.

Durgapal said: “The SSB keeps a count of vehicles at the Gaindakhali post while the police keep a count of visitors at the Kali temple route to Purnagiri temple.”

However, the biometric machines placed near the temple were ineffective as it could record a total of 2.50 lakh devotees visiting the temple, the SDM said.

Champawat Superintendent of Police DS Kunwar said devotees in large numbers were still visiting the temple. “We have asked police personnel to remain on duty till the number of visitors reached a minimum number,” he added.

1 lakh turn up at Kainchi Dham fair 

Over one lakh devotees from across the world thronged the Kainchi Dham ashram to mark its inauguration day on the Nainital-Almora road (17 km from Nainital) today.

Neem Karoli Baba had established the ashram in 1962. The Nainital district administration had to make the Haldwani-Almora highway near Kainchi Dham one way to alleviate traffic woes. 

“Despite heavy rain, devotees started turning up at 5 am. Over 1.25 lakh people had arrived by 7 pm, which is a record  of number of footfall in a single day,” said Mela officer Kamal Ram Arya.

According to the Kainchi Dham temple committee, the number of devotees has increased due to the association of Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg with the Dham. 

“Zuckerberg, who has spent several days at the Kainchi Dham ashram, had told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that he got the inspiration to invent Facebook after visiting the ashram,” said the Mela officer.

The mysterious saint, revered by well-known international personalities, had established the temple which was later named after him. The ashram is situated on the Almora-Haldwani road, 17 km from Lake Town in Nainital.