Palanquins of deities from state, HP to have holy dip in Ganga on April 22

Sandeep Rawat

Tribune News Service

Haridwar, January 19

Devotees will bring palanquins and idols of deities from across Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh for a holy dip in the Ganga on the 10th festive bath on Chaitra Shukla Paksh Poornima on April 22 during Ardh Kumbh.

The palanquins and idols from revered shrines as well as that of local deities from 13 districts of the state will be brought for a dip in the Ganga. The Shri Dev Bhoomi Lok Sanskriti Virasatiya Shobha Yatra Samiti is sending invitations to religious, social and village organisations and individuals to be present during the ceremony of the deities being given a dip in the Ganga.

Notably, about the palanquins of 1,350 deities from the Himalayan region had arrived in Haridwar for a dip in the Ganga during Kumbh in 2010. This time, this number may exceed as the organising committee is promoting the ceremony on a large scale.

The ceremony will begin at Brahma Kund, Har-ki-Pauri, and adjacent ghats early morning and later obeisance will be paid to the deities at a special function at Pantdeep.

Mohan Singh Rawat Gaonwasi, president of the Shri Dev Bhoomi Lok Sanskriti Virasatiya Shobha Yatra Samiti, reviewed the preparations at Sudarshan Ashram here today. He said the Ardh Kumbh Mela administration had given its consent to allow the ceremony on April 22.

Elaborate arrangements would be made and duties would be assigned to the committee members as well as people who were willing to welcome the palanquin processions. The palanquins coming from Kumaon would be welcomed at Haldwani while those coming from Garhwal would arrive at the Triveni Ganga ghat in Rishikesh and Kotdwar in Pauri Garhwal district on April 21 evening.

At Kotdwar, the palanquins would gather at the Shree Sidhbali Temple and then a royal procession would be held in the town.

Rawat, a former Cabinet minister, said they had got a good response and they hope the number of palanquins this time would exceed the Kumbh count of 1,350. “Besides Uttarakhand, the palanquins of deities will also arrive from Himachal Pradesh, which has similar culture, traditions, customs and climate. During last Kumbh, the world media had covered the event of the deities being given a dip in the Ganga. This time, as its being observed on the last pious festive bath of Ardh Kumbh, we are expecting participation of a large number of deities and people,” said Rawat.

Committee member Acharya Peetambar Dutt Panyuli said Chief Minister Harish Rawat would take part in a discussion with Ardh Kumbh mela officials to be organized by the Cultural Department at Beejapur in Dehradun on January 23.