Pilgrims who traveled to the sacred site of Gosainkunda for the Janai Purnima festival have started their return journey after completing their religious rituals. According to Chief District Officer Bednidhi Khanal, more than 8,000 devotees performed the ritual bath and prayers at Gosainkunda on Janai Purnima and have since begun heading back to their respective destinations.
The pilgrimage site saw over 11,000 devotees from Nag Panchami until Janai Purnima, marking a significant turnout this year.
Pilgrims who traveled by private vehicles have already left Rasuwa, while those relying on public transportation await buses and microbuses. To accommodate the large number of visitors, Langtang National Park kept the motorable roads in its base area open 24/7, allowing transport services to operate late into the night.
The Gosainkunda Area Development Committee reported that several organizations, including the Nepal Army, the Health Office, Gosainkunda Rural Municipality, Rasuwa District Hospital in Dhunche, the Himalayan Rescue Association, District Ayurveda, and the Nepal Red Cross, provided essential services to the pilgrims.
Medical professionals noted that pilgrims encountered no major issues, aside from minor health concerns. With dry weather prevailing, the walking trails remained easy to navigate, a sentiment echoed by many pilgrims. However, some visitors expressed frustration over being overcharged for essential goods, with prices reportedly marked up by ten times the usual rate.
