Gopeshwar, August 30(HS): The annual folk pilgrimage honoring Goddess Nanda concluded on Saturday after a fortnight of devout festivities. Amid the lofty Himalayan meadows, devotees sang ancient folk songs and performed traditional jagar hymns, bidding a tearful farewell to the revered deity as she journeyed towards Kailash.

The emotional send-off moved many to tears, especially the women bidding goodbye to their dhyan (married daughters or sisters), whose eyes welled up with unrestrained sorrow. Particularly poignant were the dhyan women who sobbed openly as the palanquin carrying Goddess Nanda was ceremoniously sent off towards Kailash.

As part of the ritual, devotees offered the goddess gifts of khaja, choora (beaten rice), bindi, bangles, cucumbers, and mungri as samoun (sacred offerings). On Saturday morning, the grand procession — the Nanda Saptami — saw the goddess’s palanquins travel from the high Himalayan meadows of Bedni and Bund to Narela Bugyal and Kurud Dasholi, culminating at Balpata. Here, worship and tarpan (ritual offerings for ancestors) were performed before the final farewell.

In the Bund region, at the Chhantoli Narela Bugyal, the devotees again paid homage with prayers and offerings before sending her off to Kailash through jagar ceremonies. The entire Himalayan valley resonated with the chants of “Jai Nanda,” echoing throughout the mountains as the goddess’s sacred journey commenced.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar