The preparations for the Maghe Sankranti festival at the sacred pilgrimage site of Devghat are now in the final stages. The festival, which spans one month starting from Maghe Sankranti, is expected to draw a large number of devotees, surpassing the previous years in attendance.
According to the Devghat Area Development Committee, the area is anticipating an increased influx of visitors this year, with many devotees expected to arrive starting from the day before Sankranti. A special committee, led by committee chairman Bhim Bahadur Rana, has been formed to manage the event, consisting of 151 members. To ensure smooth operations, 22 subcommittees have also been set up to handle different aspects of the festival.
Executive Director of the Development Committee, Sadhan Baral, mentioned that preparations have been made in anticipation of five lakh devotees arriving on Sankranti day alone. Given that Magh is considered a holy month, he noted that nearly eight lakh devotees are expected to visit throughout the month for the grand festival.
As part of the preparations, the committee has already completed several important tasks, including setting the boat fare, repairing the cable bridge connecting Chitwan and Devghat, and constructing temporary toilets. “We are also marking the designated bathing areas for devotees,” added Chairman Rana, noting that five lakh devotees are expected to bathe on the day of Maghe Sankranti.
Devotees believe that bathing in the confluence of the Trishuli River, which comes from Gosainkunda, and the Kali Gandaki River, which flows from Muktinath, will yield spiritual benefits on Maghe Sankranti. People from various districts of Nepal, as well as Hindu pilgrims from India, visit Devghat for this sacred bath. Local religious beliefs suggest that even the gods bathe and pilgrimage to Devghat on this auspicious day, adding to the significance of the event.