A two-day Shaligram Festival began on Thursday to promote and raise awareness about Shaligrams sacred fossilized stones found exclusively in the Kaligandaki River and the Ruru region of Nepal. The festival is being held at the Rishikesh Temple in Ridi, a spiritual junction of Palpa, Gulmi, and Syangja districts. The Lumbini Provincial Government has provided financial support of NPR 1 million for the event.
Jointly organized by Tansen Municipality (Palpa), Rurukshetra Rural Municipality (Gulmi), and Kaligandaki Rural Municipality (Syangja), and managed by the Rishikesh Temple Management Committee, the festival aims to highlight the cultural, spiritual, and geographical significance of the Shaligram.
According to Committee Chairperson Parshuram Bhattarai, the festival will feature educational sessions about the importance and promotion of Shaligrams. Scholar Pandit Narayanananda Acharya will present a research paper on the topic, with commentary by Chaitanya Krishna Maharaj. Another paper on Lord Rishikesh, the Kaligandaki River, and the Ridi-Ruru area will be presented by expert Murali Mohan Bastola, with analysis by former Vice-Chancellor of Mahendra Sanskrit University, Dr. Ramesh Dhakal.
The festival includes the worship of 1,008 Shaligrams, their display and distribution, a chariot procession of Lord Rishikesh, cultural rallies, devotional singing, and an evening aarti (prayer ceremony) on the banks of the Kaligandaki River. Organizers believe the event will help promote religious tourism while preserving and spreading awareness about the spiritual importance of the Shaligram and the Kaligandaki region.
Given Ruru’s deep religious and cultural significance, pilgrims from across the country frequently visit the area to bathe in the holy Kaligandaki River and worship at the revered Rishikesh Temple.
