Devghat, a renowned religious site, witnessed approximately 130,000 devotees taking a holy dip during the month of Shrawan this year. The Devghat Area Development Committee reported a decrease in the number of devotees compared to the previous year.
The Committee’s Executive Director, Sadan Baral, stated that the final Monday of the month saw a significant increase in the influx of devotees. He mentioned that around 50,000 devotees visited Devghat on that single day, which was notably higher than the other Mondays of the month.
Devotees of the Hindu faith believe that bathing at Devghat during the month of Shrawan fulfills their spiritual desires. Devghat is recognized for the Saligram stones found in its rivers, and it is considered a significant religious destination due to the confluence of the Kali River from Mustang and the Trishuli River from Gosainkunda.
The Committee speculated that the lower turnout this year might be due to the caution advised against approaching the riverbanks, given the high water levels and unpredictable weather conditions. Additionally, Baral noted that the fewer number of Mondays in Shrawan this year—only four compared to the usual five—may have contributed to the reduced number of devotees.
Devotees from various regions, including Chitwan, Gorkha, Lamjung, Tanahun, Kaski, Syangja, Parbat, Dhading, Baglung, Kapilvastu, Rupandehi, Nawalparasi, Makwanpur, and even India, visited Devghat for the holy bath. Baral emphasized that the Committee has been addressing complaints from devotees every year, and this year, additional security personnel were deployed to ensure safety during the events.
