Deities of Kullu valley call for ‘Big Jagati’ to avert foreseen calamity

In a key development following the conclusion of the Kullu Dasehra festival, Danvender Singh, kardar (custodian) of Lord Raghunath, has announced that Goddess Hadimba has summoned a significant divine congregation — a “Big Jagati” — to be held in Naggar. According to Singh, the deities have foreseen a potential calamity and intend to offer divine guidance to protect the local populace.

Maheshwar Singh, Chharibardar (chief caretaker) of Lord Raghunath, emphasised that the deities were displeased with individuals acting on personal whims, disregarding divine will. This sentiment echoes recent spiritual interventions across the Valley.

Just weeks earlier, on August 27, a “Chhoti Jagati” (smaller divine assembly) was convened at Lord Raghunath’s premises in Sultanpur under the auspices of Mata Hadimba.

The gathering issued a stern directive to halt the Bijli Mahadev ropeway project, reaffirming an ancient divine mandate against interference with sacred shrines. Through oracles, the deities expressed deep displeasure and warned of severe consequences for any disruption on temple sites.

Maheshwar Singh recounted the divine rebuke, “They sharply condemned any disturbance to temple grounds and demanded an immediate end to human encroachments, particularly at Dhalpur — a site sanctified for generations.” He said, “Appeals have been made to the deities to punish those who violate these sacred spaces. The state government has reportedly been informed and appears inclined to honour the divine verdict.”

The tradition of “Jagati”, or divine assemblies, holds deep cultural and spiritual significance in Kullu. These gatherings serve as a mechanism for deities to address crises, natural disasters and threats to traditional practices. Oracles (Gurs) channel the will of the gods, and their pronouncements are considered binding by the community.

In July 2021, a “Jagati” in Naggar addressed the anger of deities like Dhumal Naag and Hadimba Devi, who were excluded from Dasehra festivities due to Covid-19 restrictions in 2020. Rituals were prescribed to appease them. On November 16, 2020, nearly 200 deities gathered at the Raghunath temple to decide on a yajna (sacred fire ritual) and “kahika” (expiation ceremony) to cleanse Dhalpur grounds following limited deity participation during the pandemic.

In November 2019, Dhumal Naag convened a “Jagati” to preserve the sanctity of Dhalpur during and after Dasehra, focusing on maintaining the holiness of stalls and grounds.

A landmark Dev Sansad (divine parliament) on September 26, 2014, saw over 270 deities gather after the High Court’s ban on animal sacrifices, defending age-old traditions despite the ban being upheld.

These assemblies have historically safeguarded Kullu’s spiritual heritage — from responding to droughts in 1970 to opposing modern projects like the 2006 ski village proposal.

The upcoming “Big Jagati” at Naggar Castle, involving 18 Kardu deities and symbolic rituals such as floating cow dung laddoos in water, is expected to address broader concerns beyond recent encroachments. For the people of Kullu, these convocations are not mere ceremonies — they are vital sources of guidance, blending faith, tradition and communal resilience. The outcome of this major assembly may significantly influence future interactions between development, governance and sacred traditions in the region.