The 10-day Shatachandi Mahayagya and Devghat Magh Mahotsav commenced on Monday at the sacred pilgrimage site of Devghatdham amid a deeply devotional atmosphere.
Organized with the objective of renovating the Durga Panchayan Temple and constructing an ashram, the festival was jointly inaugurated by the heads and spiritual leaders of various renowned ashrams of Devghat. The religious event has been initiated under the resolve of renowned Bhagwat narrator Acharya Sheetal Krishna, with the participation of prominent spiritual figures including Mahamandaleshwar Atmanand Giri Maharaj and Ishwar Krishna Maharaj, among others.
The festival has been organized keeping in mind the religious significance of the month of Magh. According to popular belief, taking a holy bath throughout the month of Magh at Adiprayag, the confluence of the Trishuli and Kaligandaki rivers, is considered equivalent to performing an Ashwamedha Yagya and brings great spiritual merit. The event also serves as an effective platform to highlight the spiritual importance of Devghatdham and invite devotees from across the country for Magh and Makar Snan.
The festival began with a grand Kalash Yatra from the Veni Sangam of Devghat, generating enthusiasm throughout the local area. Throughout the festival period, 111 Chandi recitations and continuous havan rituals are being performed at the temple premises on the Tanahun side, where the sacred fire (Agnidhuni) has been burning uninterruptedly for the past 40 years. On the Chitwan side, along the Narayani River, musical religious discourses are being delivered by Devi Pratibha and Acharya Sheetal Krishna.
Every evening, devotional songs, dances, and the Gandaki Aarti are further enriching the spiritual ambiance of Devghat. The religious festival, which will continue until Magh 29, is expected to witness the participation of hundreds of thousands of devotees and is believed to contribute to national peace and the welfare of humanity.
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