Royal
Pilgrimage Nanda Devi Raj jat
The legend of the Nanda Devi Raj Jat is an important event from spiritual-cultural point of view as the shrines of Nanda Devi are scattered all over the Central Himalayas. The Devi is considered as the Isht-Devi, by the hill folk. The royal family of Garhwal conducts the Nanda Raj Jat to please the Isht-Devi, in order to seek blessings for a prosperous kingdom and the defeat of their enemies. Her relations with the people is just the same as that of sita with Mithila, similary Gaura is Know to be the daughter of Uttarakhand. Daughter of the king of mountains, Himavat. Gaura was married to ash-smeared, leapord skin wearing yogi. It is populary believed that according to the Indian calendar, During the Krishna Paksha of Bhado (2nd week of August) the Devi visits her mother's place and the event is celebrated with the performance of special rituals and prayers on Nanda Ashtami in the numerous Nanda Devi temples spread all over the Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
Genesis of the tradition : -
The event marks the coming of Nanda Devi to her mother's place (mait). During this time Uttarakhand reverberates with festivities. The event finishes when the people of her maiti (mother home), escort her in a procession is called the Nanda Jat. The entire scene is beautifully portrayed in the folk songs and jagars sung by the woman of Uttarakhand. Such Nanda jats are held in almost all the places in the hills, where there is a Nanda Devi temple. Every Garhadhipatis in the hills took out Nanda Jats to place the Isht -Devi. Every Twelve years the Nanda Raj Jat replaces the annual Raj Jat on the route of Homkund, from the temple of Nanda Devi. The dolis of other devtas also know as the 'Birs of Nanda Devi' also join the Raj Jat. The Goril dev of Kumaon and the Lattu Dev of Bandhan are the prominent devtas.
The Nanda Raj Jat war started by ancestors of Rajas of Garhwal. The ancient tradition of taking out Nanda jats among all the Garhadhipatis, was combined by the raja into a Royal pilgrimage every twelve years. Raja Ajay Pal (Shesh Pal) of Chandgarh started the Nanda Raj Jat in 15 century. Since then, the royal family takes the pilgrimage along with their purohit to seek forgiveness from Nanda Devi, and offer 'Tarpan' for the ancestors who had died at the Roopkund, along with his pregnant wife and courtesans
The legend of the Nanda Devi Raj Jat is an important event from spiritual-cultural point of view as the shrines of Nanda Devi are scattered all over the Central Himalayas. The Devi is considered as the Isht-Devi, by the hill folk. The royal family of Garhwal conducts the Nanda Raj Jat to please the Isht-Devi, in order to seek blessings for a prosperous kingdom and the defeat of their enemies. Her relations with the people is just the same as that of sita with Mithila, similary Gaura is Know to be the daughter of Uttarakhand. Daughter of the king of mountains, Himavat. Gaura was married to ash-smeared, leapord skin wearing yogi. It is populary believed that according to the Indian calendar, During the Krishna Paksha of Bhado (2nd week of August) the Devi visits her mother's place and the event is celebrated with the performance of special rituals and prayers on Nanda Ashtami in the numerous Nanda Devi temples spread all over the Garhwal and Kumaon regions.
Genesis of the tradition : -
The event marks the coming of Nanda Devi to her mother's place (mait). During this time Uttarakhand reverberates with festivities. The event finishes when the people of her maiti (mother home), escort her in a procession is called the Nanda Jat. The entire scene is beautifully portrayed in the folk songs and jagars sung by the woman of Uttarakhand. Such Nanda jats are held in almost all the places in the hills, where there is a Nanda Devi temple. Every Garhadhipatis in the hills took out Nanda Jats to place the Isht -Devi. Every Twelve years the Nanda Raj Jat replaces the annual Raj Jat on the route of Homkund, from the temple of Nanda Devi. The dolis of other devtas also know as the 'Birs of Nanda Devi' also join the Raj Jat. The Goril dev of Kumaon and the Lattu Dev of Bandhan are the prominent devtas.
The Nanda Raj Jat war started by ancestors of Rajas of Garhwal. The ancient tradition of taking out Nanda jats among all the Garhadhipatis, was combined by the raja into a Royal pilgrimage every twelve years. Raja Ajay Pal (Shesh Pal) of Chandgarh started the Nanda Raj Jat in 15 century. Since then, the royal family takes the pilgrimage along with their purohit to seek forgiveness from Nanda Devi, and offer 'Tarpan' for the ancestors who had died at the Roopkund, along with his pregnant wife and courtesans