Amar Bahadur Thapa, chairman of the Chandannath Bhairavnath Guthi Committee, said that the provincial government has further strengthened religious faith here by granting a public holiday on the day of carrying the linga.
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The Karnali provincial government has decided to declare a public holiday on the day of carrying the Lingo of the Chandannath Temple in Jumla, the main religious tourist destination of Karnali.
The cabinet meeting held on Tuesday decided to celebrate Asoj 22 as a fair as the day of carrying the Lingo from the forest. The holiday on this day will be applicable only for Jumla.
The people of Jumla have said that this decision made in Karnali province is further encouraging religious tourism. Amar Bahadur Thapa, Chairman of the Chandannath Bhairavnath Guthi Committee, responded that giving a public holiday on the day of carrying the Lingo has further strengthened religious faith. He said, "Government and non-government bodies also participate in bringing the Lingo from the forest. This holiday will also provide relief to them." The Karnali provincial government has been declaring Chaitra 12 as a public holiday only in Jumla, so a holiday has been granted on the day of carrying the Lingo.
Since tradition, there is a custom of bringing the linga of the Chandannath temple from the Lamasim Radikhella forest in Chandannath Municipality-3. There is a custom of installing two lingas of 52 hands for the Chandannath temple and a linga of 48 hands for Bhairavnath. There is a religious belief that the linga should be taken out of the forest on the day of Rishi Panchami and brought to the district headquarters, Khalanga, on the day of Ashwin Krishna Trayodashi. 
Amar Bahadur Thapa, the chairman of the Guthi Committee, informed that it is a custom to perform puja on the day of Ghatasthapana and then erect the linga at the Chandannath Bhairavnath temple in Khalanga. Earlier, people used to carry the linga in their hands and bring it to the Chandannath Bhairavnath temple in Khalanga. In the meantime, the custom of carrying it on their shoulders became established. After two to four years, when vehicles reached the district headquarters, the linga was even brought on tractors. Now, the Nepal Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and ordinary citizens drag the Linga to the Khalanga by dragging it on the road.
On the first day of going to the forest to make the Linga, the forest is worshipped. There, it is customary to cut down trees only after offering a goat. After performing puja, a team with musical instruments goes to the forest to pull the Linga.
Earlier, the sticks used to pull the Linga and the chauri furkas were brought from Mugu district. The ropes used to tie the chauri furkas used to come from Humla. The bamboo ropes needed to erect the Linga were sent from Kalikot. Now, all the goods have stopped coming from all these districts. But it is believed that religious faith will increase after the provincial government gives a holiday on this day. Local Nawaraj Adhikari said, "The importance of this temple has increased even more since the provincial government gives a holiday on the day when the Linga is brought."
