A two-day Shaligram festival has started from Thursday to promote the Shaligram found only in Ruru region and Kaligandaki. The government of Lumbini has provided 10 lakhs for the start of the festival at the confluence of Palpa, Gulmi and Syangja at Rurukshetra Ridi Rishikeshava temple.
Tansen municipality of Palpa, Rurukshetra rural municipality of Gulmi and Kaligandaki rural municipality of Syangja organized the festival and organized by Hrishikesh temple management committee. Parashuram Bhattarai, Chairman of Rishikeshava Temple Management Committee, informed that during the Shaligram festival, which can only be found in the Kaligandaki area, information on Shaligram, promotion, importance etc. will be given. At the
festival, Pandit Narayanananda Acharya will present a paper on Shaligram. On the worksheet Chaitanya Krishna Maharaj is scheduled to comment. Murali Mohan Bastola, an expert on Lord Rishikeshava and Kaligandaki as well as Ridi Ruru region, is scheduled to present a paper, while former Vice Chancellor of Mahendra Sanskrit University Ramesh Dhakal will comment on it. It is believed that the festival will help in promoting the importance of Kaligandaki river and Shaligram. In the
festival, there is a program of worshiping 1 thousand 8 Shaligrams, sale distribution, Rathayatra of Rishikeshava, tableau rally including bhajankirtan, evening aarti at Kaligandaki . In addition to spreading religious propaganda, it is believed that the festival will help in bringing in religious tourists. Because of the religious and cultural importance of the Ruru area, people come here from different places. It is customary to bathe in Kaligandaki and visit the famous Rishikeshava Temple .
President Bhattarai said that there is a legend that the 16th century king Manimukunda Sen found an idol of Lord Rishikeshava while bathing in Kaligandaki and replaced it. Devotees come to bathe in Kaligand and visit various temples including Rishikeshava, Gayatri Mata. Rishikeshava Temple and this area is said to be the birth place of Ruru Kanya . It is believed that the famous Rishikeshava temple established by receiving the idol of Rishikeshava from Manimukunda Sen can become an attraction for religious tourists.
Mirmima lake has been formed after the 'Kaligandaki A' hydropower project was commissioned in Syangja. Reedy area has become dry. From Mirmi to Darpuk of Yamgha in Palpa, it has become dry. It is mentioned in various scriptures that Ruru is also the birth place of girls.
Bhrigurishi Aurva Rishi etc. has been considered to be the only tapobhumi of this place. Near the sacred pilgrimage site rich in biological diversity, there are Math Mandirs, Party Pauwa, Ponds etc . Locals suggest that attention should be paid to the promotion of this area, lack of construction of a master plan, protection of all heritages, construction of cremation houses, river and environment protection.
