Suket Devta Mela begins in Sundernagar

The five-day State-Level Suket Devta Mela began with grandeur in Sundernagar, Mandi district, as PWD and Urban Development Minister Vikramaditya Singh inaugurated the festival with a traditional religious ceremony at Shukdev Vatika. Accompanied by local dignitaries, he offered prayers to the presiding deities before leading a grand procession that wound its way through the town and culminated at Jawahar Park, where the ceremonial flag hoisting marked the official commencement of the festival.

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During the inauguration, Vikramaditya Singh laid the foundation stone for the renovation of Shukdev Vatika and Dehari Park, announcing a combined budget of Rs 3 crore for the projects. He also revealed plans for the construction of a residential building for the executive officer, allocating Rs 50 lakh for the initiative. Addressing a large gathering at Jawahar Park, he spoke of the cultural and historical importance of the Suket Devta Mela, highlighting how 175 deities from various parts of Mandi district, including the revered Mahoonag, Kamru Nag, and Devi Kamaksha, had arrived for the celebrations. He proudly declared that Sundernagar now hosts the third-largest deity fair in Himachal Pradesh, a testament to the region’s deep-rooted traditions.

In his speech, Vikramaditya Singh reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to development while preserving the divine heritage of Himachal Pradesh. He also addressed concerns regarding the four-lane highway project in Mandi district, assuring residents that their interests were being given top priority. Speaking about ongoing development projects, he informed the public that road construction under the Central Road Fund and the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) was progressing well. He assured that the Salapad-Tattapani road, which had faced delays due to forest clearance approvals, would be completed soon. He further announced that work on the Pandoh Bridge would commence within the next month, as Rs 140 crore had been sanctioned for the reconstruction of bridges damaged during the monsoon. Additionally, he shared that Rs 17 crore had been allocated to widen the Pandoh-Baggi road via Chail Chowk, ensuring improved connectivity for the region.

Responding to a long-standing demand from the Suket Sarv Devta Mela Committee, the minister also announced plans for a ‘Dev Sadan’ (community centre for deities) in Sundernagar. He assured the gathering that he would personally take up the matter with Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, expressing confidence that efforts would be made to bring this initiative to fruition.

The minister also addressed a growing concern in the region — the escalating drug menace, particularly the rise of synthetic drugs like ‘chitta’. He spoke about the government’s determination to crack down on drug traffickers, emphasising that strict laws were being strengthened to ensure that even small quantities of drugs would be considered a non-bailable offence. He assured the public that drug dealers, regardless of their political affiliations or social status, would not be spared, as the government was taking decisive action to rid the region of this growing problem.

The inaugural ceremony was attended by several prominent figures, including former Chief Parliamentary Secretary Sohan Lal Thakur, Chairman of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee Sanjeev Guleria, and other dignitaries such as Champa Thakur, Naresh Chauhan, Hirender Sen, SDM Sundernagar Amar Negi, and DSP Bharat Bhushan.