Deity Kamrunag arrives in Mandi for Mahashivratri fest starting tomorrow

The international Mahashivratri festival celebrations started today with the arrival of the revered deity, Kamrunag, in Mandi city. However, officially, the festival will commence on February 27. Known as the Rain God, Kamrunag’s arrival coincided with a light drizzle in the city, adding a divine touch to the festivities. The Kamrunag deity, along with other prominent deities, arrived at the Raj Madhav Temple, where Deputy Commissioner Apoorv Devgan, who is also the chairman of the Mahashivratri Festival Committee, extended a warm welcome to him and performed a special puja in his honour.

In a grand ceremonial gesture, the deities, including Shukdev Dagandhu, Shukdev Thatta, Devi Baglamukhi and Devi Buddhi Bhairav embraced each other, who had also arrived in Mandi to participate in the week-long festivities. The welcoming ceremony at the Raj Madhav Temple marked the beginning of the important religious and cultural proceedings of the festival.

The Deputy Commissioner expressed joy on the arrival of the deities. He said, “With the arrival of Kamrunag, the Mahashivratri celebrations have begun. Other deities are also arriving and with their blessings, I am confident that the festival this year will be a grand success.”

He announced that Mahashivratri would be celebrated from February 27 to March 5 and 216 deities had been invited to participate. He encouraged the public to join in the celebrations and receive the blessings of the deities.

Kamrunag was given ceremonial welcome earlier at Pulgharat, where the district administration, along with the members of the Sarv Devta Samiti, including its president Shiv Pal Sharma, ensured a traditional and heartfelt reception to the deity.

Meanwhile, in a traditional show of reverence, Raja Omeshwar Singh Sen paid his respects to the deity at the Rajmahal Palace in Mandi. The arrival of Kamrunag is considered particularly significant, as the deity is believed to bring rain, and, indeed, Mandi witnessed light showers today. The weather was cloudy since morning and there was a forecast of snowfall in high-altitude areas and rain in lower parts of Himachal.