The 38-day-long Shrawan fair at the Doleshwar Mahadev Temple recognized as the head of Kedarnath, concluded today. The fair, which began on the first day of the month of Shrawan, came to a close with a large number of devotees visiting the temple.
Located in Sipadol, Surya Binayak Municipality-8, the Doleshwar Mahadev Temple is a significant religious site. On the occasion of the temple being declared the head of Kedarnath on Bhadra 6, the temple’s doors were opened, allowing devotees to enter the inner sanctum and touch the sacred Doleshwar Shila (stone) for worship. This special arrangement was made known by Dharmaraj Basnet, the chairman of the Kedarnath’s Head Doleshwar Mahadev Conservation and Development Committee.
From as early as 4 AM today, all four temple doors were opened for darshan (viewing) and worship. Over 15,000 devotees visited the temple, according to temple authorities. Dharmaraj Basnet noted that the temple’s doors are opened only three times a year—during Mahashivaratri, Akshaya Tritiya, and Bhadra 6—allowing devotees to enter and touch the Shila for worship.
The Shravan fair saw the participation of devotees from Nepal, India, and other countries, with the number of Indian devotees increasing every year, as reported by Harisharan Basnet, the general secretary of the committee. He also mentioned that around 400,000 devotees visited Doleshwar during the fair, with more than 50,000 devotees attending on each of the four Mondays of Shravan.
During the fair, donations of NPR 8.547 million were collected from the devotees. Of this amount, NPR 4.52 million was collected through receipts, while NPR 4.027 million was collected from offerings made to the temple and idols, according to the committee’s secretary, Kabiraj Thapa. He also stated that NPR 1.236 million was spent on pandal construction, food, and other related expenses.
At the fair’s closing ceremony, Bhaktapur Chief District Officer Roshni Kumari Shrestha expressed her satisfaction with the peaceful conclusion of the 38-day event, highlighting that it was conducted without any conflicts or disputes.
During the ceremony, Surya Binayak Municipality Mayor Basudev Thapa emphasized that the Surya Binayak Temple is not only a significant site for the municipality but also a center of faith for Hindu devotees from Nepal and abroad. He also mentioned that the municipality grants a public holiday on the temple’s foundation day, recognizing its religious and touristic importance.
Surya Binayak Municipality Deputy Mayor Sarita Timilsina Bhattarai noted that the fair had positively impacted the local economy by helping market local products and contributing to the economic development of the nearby residents.
Ward Chairman Pushparaj Basnet acknowledged the collective efforts of volunteers, healthcare workers, and others who contributed to the successful completion of the fair. He also mentioned that a blood donation camp organized during the fair saw the participation of more than 500 donors.
