The Gosainkunda Fair, set to take place on Bhadra 3 (Janai Purnima), has completed all necessary preparations. For the first time, electric lighting has been installed at the sacred pilgrimage site of Gosainkunda, providing much-needed illumination for devotees during nighttime hours.
As a significant religious and tourist destination, the introduction of electric lighting has brought excitement among both the pilgrims and local hotel owners. Although electricity was first expanded in the district in 2038 BS, it was only last Friday that the power line was extended to Gosainkunda for the first time.
According to Sanjiv Bhattarai, Chief of the Nepal Electricity Authority’s Rasuwa branch, over 200 lights have been installed at the Ganesh Gauda Buddha Temple and Gosainkunda. Bhattarai acknowledged the support from various organizations, including the Langtang National Park Office, the Department of National Parks, the District Administration Office, civil society, and the Gosainkunda Rural Municipality, for facilitating the extension of electricity to the area.
A 14-kilometer power line has been constructed from Chandanbari to the pond to make the fair more organized and respectful. This electricity extension is expected to ease daily activities such as cooking and contribute to forest and vegetation conservation by reducing the reliance on forest resources, according to residents.
With the expansion of electrical services, the Himalayan Rescue Association has also started providing oxygen to pilgrims affected by altitude sickness. A medical team deployed by the association has been offering primary care, with 150 travelers receiving oxygen by Friday evening, as reported by the association’s manager, Prakash Khatri.
This morning, the National Park Office reported that 2,000 pilgrims are currently ascending the Suryakunda Mountain. To ensure the safety of pilgrims, a health assistance booth has been set up at the Shiva Temple intersection in Dhunche, and additional health camps have been established at Mini Gosainkunda, Cholngpati, Lauribinayak, and Gosainkunda itself, according to Chief District Officer Bedanidhi Khanal.
More than 100 security personnel have been deployed for the safety of those attending the Gosainkunda Fair. An emergency rescue team is also in place to assist sick pilgrims, and all travelers have been encouraged to embark on their journey with confidence.
A group of devotees carrying Gorakhnath, who needs to be bathed in the holy water of Gosainkunda, has already departed for the Suryakunda Mountain this morning under strict security measures, as reported by District Police Office Chief Keshav Bhattarai. Due to the increasing number of pilgrims, traffic management has been tightened to ensure a smooth flow of vehicles.
