Almora. As part of the preparations for the historic Nanda Devi Fair, a symbol of faith, tradition, and folk culture, the Nanda Devi Mela Committee, Raj Purohit, and hundreds of devotees reached Dulagaon Relakot on Friday. Here, the unique and age-old ritual of Kadli Tree Invitation was performed with great reverence. The devotees’ procession, which started from the Nanda Devi Temple premises with chants of Maa Nanda–Sunanda, created an atmosphere of devotion along the way. Villagers welcomed the procession with traditional dhol-damau beats.
Upon reaching the village, the committee members and devotees first visited the Devi Than Temple. Local women sang traditional devotional songs, filling the temple with a spiritual aura. Ritual worship was performed at the temple, after which the committee members, devotees, and villagers reached the sacred Kadli tree to extend the formal invitation for the arrival of Maa Nanda–Sunanda. The entire region echoed with enthusiastic chants of the goddess’s name.
The villagers of Dulagaon Relakot organized a bhandara (community feast) for the visiting devotees and committee members, further strengthening the spirit of devotion and unity. All attendees partook in the prasada, marking their participation in the sacred ritual. This year, it was decided that the Kadli tree will be brought from the house of Pushkar Singh and Yogesh Singh.
Prominent participants included Mela Committee Secretary Manoj Sanwal, Co-convener Ravi Goyal, Manager Anup Sah, Chief Cultural Convener and Treasurer Harish Bisht, Chief Convener Arjun Bisht Cheema, Conveners Amit Sah (Monu) and Amarnath Singh Negi, Media In-charge Kapil Malhotra, Councilor Kuldeep Mer, Co-conveners Abhishek Joshi (Councilor) and Manoj Bhandari (Mantu), along with Dhan Singh Mehta, Jeevan Nath Verma, Rajendra Bisht, Harish Bhandari, Hitesh Verma, Jagat Tiwari, Ashish Bisht, Daya Krishna Pargai, Naman Bisht, Pankaj Pargai, Aditya Bisht, Councilor Jyoti Sah, Nirmala Joshi, State Minister Ganga Bisht, Former Municipal Chairperson Shobha Joshi, Dhirendra Singh Rawat, Dhan Singh Rawat, Trilochan Joshi, Dinesh Mathpal, and several other dignitaries.
The event was conducted in a traditional manner with active participation from youth, women, and senior citizens. The villagers’ enthusiasm and the committee’s dedication reaffirmed that the Nanda Devi Fair is not merely a festival but an enduring cultural identity of the Kumaon region.
Committee officials highlighted that the purpose of the tradition is to strengthen social unity, uphold faith, and preserve cultural heritage. With the Kadli Tree Invitation ceremony, the formal preparations of the Nanda Devi Mahotsav have officially begun. In the coming days, processions, cultural programs, and religious rituals will be held across the town.
Villagers and committee members expressed confidence that this year’s fair will be grander than ever before, attracting devotees from across India and abroad, who will seek blessings of Maa Nanda–Sunanda and attain spiritual merit.
