350 deities to deliberate on nature, humanity at Kullu divine parliament

Kullu, often hailed as the Valley of Gods, is set to witness a spiritually charged and historic congregation — the Badi Jagati, a rare divine parliament where more than 350 deities and their emissaries will assemble to deliberate on nature’s fury and humanity’s obligations towards the environment. The sacred event will unfold on October 31 at the Jagti Patt temple in Naggar, the erstwhile capital of Kullu.

The call for this extraordinary assembly was issued by Mata Hadimba, the revered grandmother deity of the Raj Parivar, through her oracle during the recent International Kullu Dasehra festival. Her message carried a stern warning — nature’s growing distress, fuelled by human apathy, could invite harsher retribution unless corrective steps are taken.

In Himachal’s divine tradition, only a few deities possess the authority to summon a Jagati — among them Mata Tripura Sundari, Devta Jamlu, Panjveer of Kotkandi and Mata Hadimba. Acting on this divine directive, the Raj Parivar and Dev Samaj are coordinating preparations for the grand assembly, inviting representatives from Kullu, Mandi’s Seraj region and Lahaul.

During the Jagati, rituals featuring sacred instruments such as the Dhadch (drum) and Ghanta (bell) will accompany the oracles, or Gurs, who act as conduits for divine will. The gathering will serve not only as a spiritual forum but also as a reminder of humanity’s moral duty to safeguard nature.

According to Maheshwar Singh, Chharibardar (chief caretaker) of Lord Raghunath, all arrangements in Naggar are complete. “The Dhadch of Tharah Kardu will be carried ceremoniously from Sultanpur to Naggar,” he said. “It will be placed outside the Jagti Patt temple, flanked by Mata Tripura Sundari and Mata Hadimba. The Jagati will begin at 9 am after morning prayers by the Yoginis.” All participating oracles will fast from the night of October 30 as a mark of devotion.

The Jagti Patt, a massive stone slab at the temple’s heart, is believed to hold mystical powers. Legends say it was brought to Naggar by divine bees from a mountain near Bahang, Manali. Historically, this sacred site functioned as a divine court of justice, where disputes and crises were resolved through divine counsel.

Past Jagatis have been convened at turning points — in 1971 during a pandemic, in 2007 over the Ski Village project, in 2014 following the animal sacrifice ban and in 2019 for post-Covid purification rituals. Each gathering shaped both faith and civic decisions in the region.

As the 2025 Jagati nears, Kullu once again turns to its gods — seeking guidance to heal from calamity, restore harmony and renew the sacred covenant between man and nature.