A sacred pilgrimage trek along the historic Kaligandaki River, stretching from the religious site of Devghat Dham to Damodarkunda, has officially commenced. The journey began this morning with a special Gandaki Puja held at Beni, Devghat, marking an auspicious start to the expedition.
The ceremony was led by venerable religious leaders including Shri 1008 Swami Madhusudanand Giri, the protector of Mahesh Sannyas Ashram in Devghat, Shri 1008 Swami Ramanand Giri, the chairman, and Dr. Guruprasad Subedi. They performed the Gandaki worship ritual to inaugurate the pilgrimage.
Kaligandaki Pilgrimage Trek Begins
The trek is organized under the leadership of revered saints and religious activists from major spiritual seats and ashrams of Nepal and India. The pilgrimage aims to promote the cultural and religious significance of the Gandaki River, raise awareness among the general public about its importance, and contribute to the preservation and enhancement of the sacred sites and civilization along the Kaligandaki riverbanks. The pilgrimage coordinator, Mr. Phanindra Prasad Paudel, provided details about the journey.
According to Mr. Paudel, the pilgrimage route covers sacred sites including Devghat Dham, Keladighat Dham, Ramdhi Dham, Rishikesh Dham, Rudraveni Dham, Seti Beni Dham, Modi Beni Dham, Galeshwor Dham, Kagbeni Dham, Muktinath Dham, and Damodarkunda Dham. Special pujas and night vigils will be held at each of these holy destinations. He encouraged all devotees interested in participating to join the special Gandaki worship ceremonies and night gatherings at these key pilgrimage spots.
Participants will cover up to 20 kilometers daily, spending around eight hours trekking each day. Dr. Guruprasad Subedi, professor at Nepal Sanskrit University, highlighted that the pilgrimage’s objective is to spread awareness about the sanctity of the Kaligandaki River among the masses. He emphasized that the trek will also support the conservation and promotion of the various religious sites along the riverbank. Pointing out that natural resources form the foundation of life, Dr. Subedi urged everyone to join efforts to protect the river and surrounding environment.
The pilgrimage, coordinated by the Mahesh Sannyas Ashram in Devghat, follows the Shaligram Corridor route spanning a total distance of 431 kilometers. The trek starts at an altitude of 220 meters above sea level and ascends up to 4,990 meters. The entire journey is expected to take between 22 to 25 days.
