The annual Shrawan Mela has commenced today in the religious region of Resunga. The fair, which runs throughout the month of Shrawan, attracts a large number of devotees daily for bathing and worship at the sacred Mahapokhari.
According to popular belief, bathing in Mahapokhari absolves one from the need to visit the Char Dham pilgrimage sites and brings spiritual merit. Devotees believe that bathing in the holy pond purifies them from sins committed unknowingly. After bathing in Mahapokhari, devotees proceed to the nearby Yagyashala Temple to offer prayers and seek blessings.
At the Yagyashala Temple, an eternal flame is kept burning, and devotees apply the sacred ash from the Yagyamandap and receive it as prasad. Other religious sites in the area, including Siddhasthan, Bishnupaduka, Laxminarayan, and Rishyasringa, also draw significant crowds. Pilgrims come from various districts such as Palpa, Syangja, Arghakhanchi, Baglung, Pyuthan, Rupandehi, and Nawalparasi.
The Resunga Conservation Committee has organized various religious activities throughout Saun, including recitations of the Purana, pathparayan (scriptural readings), bhajans (devotional songs), hom (fire rituals), and shraddha (rituals for ancestors), as informed by the committee’s chairman, Suresh Chandra Bhusal.
To maintain the sanctity of the Mahapokhari area and temple premises, the consumption and sale of fish, meat, and alcoholic beverages have been prohibited. The committee has also facilitated transportation from the district headquarters, Tamghas, to Mahapokhari for the convenience of visitors.
This year, Resunga Municipality launched the campaign “Let’s Go to Resunga,” resulting in a significant increase in tourist numbers compared to previous years, according to campaign coordinator Ramji Panthi.
The religious sites of Kaligandaki and Rudrabenidham in Gulmi have seen a surge of devotees today, marking the occasion of Saune Sankranti. Pilgrims have gathered to bathe in the river and perform worship. Kaligandaki is a confluence of the districts of Gulmi, Palpa, and Syangja.
