Almora. The 12th Durga Mahotsav, organized by the Navdurga Mahotsav Committee, Lakshmeshwar, commenced on Sunday with great devotion and enthusiasm. The celebrations began at Shri Khuntkuni Bhairav Temple with Ganesh Puja followed by the Mangal Kalash Yatra, resounding with chants of “Jai Maa Durga” that filled the entire area with spiritual fervor.
Hundreds of women participated in the Kalash Yatra, adorned in traditional Kumaoni attire. Carrying sacred Kalash on their heads, they created a devotional atmosphere with continuous chants in honor of the Goddess.
Religious Rituals Begin
At the Goddess’s shrine, the chief priests Pt. Satish Chandra Joshi and Pt. Chandrashekhar Joshi led the rituals. The main hosts, Pankaj Pant–Lata Pant and Ramesh Joshi–Geeta Joshi, performed the ceremonial vow (sankalp) seeking blessings for the welfare of all.
The rituals included Deep Puja, Ganesh Puja, Kalash Sthapana, Navgrah Puja, Pran Pratishtha of the idol of Goddess Bhagwati, Rudri Path, Durga Saptashati recitation, and Aarti, all conducted with traditional procedures.
Devotional Performances Add Splendor
Women of the region enhanced the grandeur of the occasion by presenting devotional songs, bhajans, and traditional dances in the Goddess’s courtyard, making the event both divine and vibrant.
Distinguished Personalities Present
Among those present were committee patrons Hem Chandra Joshi, Kamalapati Pandey, Mohan Chand Pandey, Girish Pant, Taru Pandey; chief coordinator Trilochan Joshi; president Sunil Karnataka; convenor Amit Sah Monu; vice president Dinesh Mathpal; secretary Vikram Sah, Vinay Pandey, Gagan Pandey; manager Namit Joshi; treasurer Hemant Pandey; joint secretary Piyush Pandey, along with Gaurav Pandey, Bhavesh Pandey, Diwan Bisht, Bhagwan Rawat, Rahul Joshi, Gopal Bisht, Dheeraj Pandey, Sachin Dangwal, Narendra Bisht, and numerous locals.
The event was also graced by Mayor Ajay Verma, former MLA Kailash Sharma, former Deputy Speaker of Uttarakhand Assembly Raghunath Singh Chauhan, Kundan Latwal, Dussehra Committee president Ajit Karki, former municipal chairman Prakash Chandra Joshi, councilors Bhupendra Joshi, Jyoti Sah, Abhishek Joshi, Tulsi Devi, Kailash Gururani, along with Hayat Singh Bisht, Rohit Sharma, Jagat Bhatt, and many others.
Honor to Meeta Upadhyay
During the ceremony, the committee honored Meeta Upadhyay, former senior deputy chairperson of Almora Municipality, who was recently awarded the Teelu Rauteli Award. She was felicitated with an angavastra (ceremonial shawl). The committee described her recognition as a matter of pride for the entire Almora region.
