The Pauri District administration has made all arrangements for Vaikunth Chaturdasi Mela to be held in the ancient Shiva Devleswar Mahadev temple at Balori in Gagwarsuyn Patti under Pauri block, slated to start on Tuesday.
The flag of lord Shiva would be implanted at 11 am on Tuesday amidst performance of religious rituals, marking the beginning of the of the four-day fair. Prior to this, the idol of the lord Shiv Mahayatra was taken around several villages of Patti Gagwarsuyn for three days since October 28.
The places Shiv Mahayatra doli passed on Monday included Kandoliya, laxminarayan Road, bus station, Dhara Road, Upper Bazar and Agency in Pauri town with thousands of the devotees lining up the roads to have a glimpse of the holy doli. The Shiv Mahayatra after covering different places returned to Balori village, a day before the mela was to start.
The secretary of the organising committee of Devleshwar Mahadev Vakunth Chaturdasi Mela Jagat Kishore Barthwal said on Monday that Devleshwar Mahadev temple has been a very ancient one located in Balori village endowed with immense spiritual significance. “The Vakunth Chaturdasi Mela is being organised for the past many years. However, since last year, the mela has assumed a wider reach with those from 33 villages of Patti Gagwarsuyn contributing to its organisation,” he said.
Giving more details of the special spiritual significance the temple is known for, he said that the lord is believed to bless the childless couples who offer prayer with children. “This year, nearly one dozen such couples have registered their names for offering special prayer during the auspicious occasion,” he said, adding that some programmes, including march-past, Kalas Yatra, sports and cultural activities, would be arranged in course of the fair to attract people from near and far.