Guru Prasad Subedi, former chairman of the Devghat Area Development Committee, said that Shaligram rocks are found in the Kaligandaki River, which meets the Trishuli River in Devghat, due to which devotees come to bathe in the water of this river as it is like nectar.
What you should know
The Devghat Area Development Committee has appealed to those coming to Devghat to take a Makar bath not to bring plastic bags. “Let’s not tarnish the heritage of faith by bringing plastic,” said committee chairman Ishwori Raj Laudari.
The committee had organized a press conference at Devghat on Tuesday to provide information about the Makar Snan Mela. Devotees from various parts of the country and bordering Indian villages have been coming here since the day before Maghe Sankranti to take Makar Snan at Devghat, the confluence of the Kaligandaki River flowing from Damodar Kund in Muktinath area, and the Trishuli River flowing from Gosainkunda.
The Devghat Area Development Committee had declared Devghat a plastic-free zone on Poush 11. ‘Its implementation is a complex issue. But garbage had made the holy river and religious places problematic. It had to be started. It was started as a campaign. Everyone has to cooperate in this,’ said committee chairman Laudari.
Sadan Baral, executive director of the Area Development Committee, said that dustbins have been installed for waste management and are being added more. More than three lakh people come to Devghat for Makar Snan. He informed that many works from transportation management to security have been completed. He also said that the suspension bridge at Devghat Dham has been repaired and 50 boats have been placed for those who want to cross the river.
Many people also cross the concrete bridges of Thimura and Dasdhunga to reach Devghat. On the current road from Anpatari to Devghat via Narayangadh, only vehicles going from Devghat will be plying on the day of Makar Snan. Since the river in the bathing area is deep and has a strong current, a safe cordon has been set up with ropes and the Devghat Area Development Committee has appealed to the general public not to cross the cordon and bathe.
Shaligram rocks are found in the Kaligandaki River, which meets the Trishuli River in Devghat, due to which devotees come to bathe because the water of this river is like nectar, said Guru Prasad Subedi, former chairman of Devghat Area Development Committee and professor at Nepal Sanskrit University. He said that such an important river should not be defaced by plastic and other waste.
