Devghat:

As is the case every year, hundreds of devotees from all around Nepal thronged the popular religious spot of Devghat Dham on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti. Devghat Dham is of archaeological, historical and cultural importance.

Around 1,25,000 devotees came to Devghat Dham to offer puja on January 13 and 14 on the occasion of Maghe Sankranti this year, member secretary of Maghe Sankranti Fair Management Main Committee, Shiv prasad Poudel said.

The fair starts a day prior to Maghe Sankranti and lasts for two days.

Devotees mostly flock to take a bath in the Beni at Devghat, the holy confluence of Kaligandaki and Trishuli River on the last night of Poush month and the morning of Sankranti.

Not only Beni, devotees could be seen taking a dip at the Kaligandaki, Trishuli and Narayani riverbanks.

The day of Makar Sankranti is taken as the day of purification, which is why the Sankranti fair has been observed in Devghat since time immemorial, added Poudel.

Devotees going to take a dip at Devghat from Narayangarh bazaar via Ramnagar had started as early as 3 am. The dense fog till 10 am could not deter devotees from taking cold dip. Bonfires were lit in different places to enable devotees to keep warm.

The Fair Management Committee had fixed the route to go to and return from Beni for the convenience of the devotees. The boats ferrying passengers across the Trishuli river to Devghat from Chitwan and the suspension bridge were filled with people.

Yam Kumar Basnet, who had come all the way from Dang, Tulsipur, said he came to Devghat for Punya Prapti. Sunita Chaudhari of Baghauda, Madi was also of same view.

According to mythological beliefs, Devghat is the one pilgrimage site that has power to purify everything. In Barahpuran, it is mentioned that Devghat was a place of frolicking for Gods and Goddesses, Swami Dr Ramananda Giri of Mahesh Sanyas Ashram said.

According to astrological calculations, the day when sun moves towards the Capricorn from Sagittarius is called Makar Sankranti or Maghe Sankranti.

It is believed that taking a dip in Beni washes away all one’s sins.

For Devghat Maghe Sankranti has a special significance as it is believed that Trishuli and Kaligandaki rivers merged on this particular day, and the day is also marked as the birth anniversary of Bashistha Muni.

On this day, the number of people undergoing Bratabandh is also significant with Bratabandh of almost 200 boys being performed today.