A religious festival, the “Shrimad Bhagwat Mahapurana Saptaha Gyan Mahayagya,” has begun today in Ghoptedanda, located in Ward No. 2 of Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality, Kaski district. The event aims to develop Ghoptedanda into a prominent tourist destination.
Organized by the Shivalaya Temple Management Committee, the festival is being held under the patronage of Machhapuchhre Rural Municipality, with Ward No. 2 office serving as the co-patron. Ward Chairperson Ganesh Acharya stated that all preparations for the festival have been completed. The religious event will continue until Bhadra 14.
The festival commenced with a “Kalash Yatra” (sacred procession) at 10 AM. The procession started from the Gaira Khelma field and passed through Kaseri, Sardikhola Health Post, Ghaderi Bhurjungkhola Bus Park, and the Old Chowk (Khaderjung Road). It then proceeded to Shildu Deurali Boarding School, Machhapuchhre Secondary School, Majhtol, Deurali, and Bajhokhet, before concluding at the Mahayagya venue via Kolchowk.
The Mahayagya aims to raise funds for the installation of a grand statue of Lord Shiva, along with 108 Jyotirlingas and Shivalingas at Ghoptedanda. Ward Chairperson Acharya emphasized that the planned statue, set against the backdrop of Machhapuchhre Himal, will establish a unique identity for the region. The festival seeks to gather resources for the broader development of religious tourism and prosperity in Sardikhola, aspiring to make Ghoptedanda a must-visit destination for both domestic and international tourists visiting Pokhara.
To ensure the success of the festival, various subcommittees have been formed. These include the Publicity Subcommittee led by Krishna Prasad Gautam, Fundraising led by Tek Raj Acharya, Youth and Women Mobilization by Ram Prasad Gurung, Secretariat Coordination by Sherman Bhujel and Govinda Acharya, Stage and Kitchen Management by Madhav Acharya, and Guest Reception by Punyashobha Gurung and Meera Acharya. Additionally, the Bhajan (devotional singing) Subcommittee is led by Raghunath Sanyasi, with an Advisory Committee chaired by Bam Bahadur Gurung, Loknath Acharya, Bhoj Raj Acharya, and Giridhari Acharya.
Sarbajit Gurung, the Chairman of the Shivalaya Mahadev Temple Management Committee, expressed confidence that the festival will be grandly successful, with an estimated collection of around 40 million rupees. He noted that the entire Sardikhola community, including local organizations, mothers’ groups, educational institutions, and the general public, have come together to make the event a success.
