Almora. The historic Nanda Devi Festival, a confluence of faith, tradition, and folk culture, was formally inaugurated on Sunday. Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami virtually inaugurated the festival, describing it as a unique symbol of Uttarakhand’s cultural heritage. Union Minister Ajay Tamta lit the ceremonial lamp and began the program with traditional rituals.
At the start of the festival, a large crowd of devotees thronged the temple premises. The atmosphere reverberated with chants of “Jai Maa Nanda-Sunanda.” The temple committee welcomed all visitors and dignitaries with traditional mementos. The committee stated that the Nanda Devi Festival is not only a religious celebration but also an occasion of folk culture, brotherhood, and social unity, which has been an identity of Almora for centuries.
Union Minister Ajay Tamta, who was specially present at the event, said that the Nanda Devi Festival is not just a religious observance for Almora but a reflection of the entire Uttarakhand’s faith and cultural heritage. He emphasized that the festival connects the younger generation to their roots.
“The Nanda Devi Festival of Almora is not merely a festival of faith but also a living symbol of our rich folk culture and traditions. Its uniqueness lies in the way it unites all sections and generations of society. At a time when the younger generation is moving towards modernity, such festivals help them reconnect with their roots and carry forward our heritage. The Nanda Devi Festival represents the identity and pride of Uttarakhand, and we are proud of it,” said Union Minister Ajay Tamta.
On this occasion, several dignitaries were present including Municipal Chairman Ajay Verma, Ranikhet MLA Pramod Nainwal, State Minister Ganga Bisht, BJP State Vice President & former MLA Kailash Sharma, former MLA Raghunath Singh Chauhan, District President Mahesh Nayal, State Media In-Charge Gaurav Pandey, Municipal President Vineet Bisht, former Minister Bittu Karnatak, former municipal chairpersons Prakash Joshi and Shobha Joshi, former District Presidents Ravi Rautela, Ramesh Bahuguna, and Govind Pilkhwal, District Magistrate Alok Kumar Pandey, social worker Kiran Pant, DCB Chairman Lalit Latwal, senior BJP leaders Kailash Gururani, Trilochan Joshi, Manoj Joshi and many others.
From the temple committee, President Manoj Verma, Secretary Manoj Sanwal, Chief Cultural Coordinator Tara Joshi, Fair Co-coordinator Ravi Goyal, Manager Anoop Sah, Treasurer Harish Bisht, Chief Coordinator Arjun Bisht ‘Cheema,’ Coordinators Amit Sah ‘Monu,’ Amarnath Singh Negi, Media In-Charge Kapil Malhotra, Councilor Kuldeep Mer, Co-coordinators Councilor Abhishek Joshi, Manoj Bhandari ‘Mantu,’ Dhan Singh Mehta, Jeevan Nath Verma, Fair Co-coordinator Rajendra Bisht, Manager Harish Bhandari, Hitesh Verma, Jagat Tiwari, Ashish Bisht, Daya Krishna Pargai, Naman Bisht, Pankaj Pargai, and Aditya Bisht played active roles.
On the occasion of the inauguration, the temple committee also announced that in the coming days, grand processions, traditional cultural programs, performances by local artists, and religious events would introduce devotees to the cultural richness of Devbhoomi (the Land of the Gods).
It is noteworthy that the Nanda Devi Festival is the cultural identity of Almora and is celebrated every year with great grandeur. Pilgrims not only from Almora but also from nearby districts and other states participate in large numbers. It is believed that the festival symbolizes the blessings of Goddess Nanda and Sunanda, bringing prosperity, peace, and unity to the region.
The temple committee officials also appealed to devotees to honor traditional culture during the celebrations and play a supportive role to make the event even more successful.
