Nainital: A significant religious and cultural event Nanda Devi Mahotsav is celebrated in remembrance of goddesses Nanda and Sunanda during the Nandashtami festival in the Kumaon region of Uttarakhand every year in the month of September. This fair started in Nainital on Wednesday when Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh inaugurated this fair.
Idols were made from Banana tree
With the beginning of Nanda Devi fair in Nainital, the idols of the goddesses have been made with the Banana tree. Thereafter, these idols of Maa Nanda and Sunanda have been consecrated in the Brahma Muhurta and opened for the devotees for darshan. Surprisingly, Maa Nanda Sunanda takes her own form in their idols. According to an artist Aarti, “Maa Nanda and Sunanda take their own forms as sometimes Maa’s smiling face is formed, and sometimes a sad face appears which forecast the future in the region.
Legend behind this fair
According to the legend, once Maa Nanda Sunanda was going to her in-laws’ house, when a demon in the form of buffalo started chasing them. For their safety, Maa Nanda Sunanda hid behind a banana tree. Suddenly, a goat appeared and it ate the leaves of that banana tree, after which that demon killed Maa Nanda Sunanda. This fair of Maa Nanda Sunanda is celebrated in the remembrance of both the goddesses. According to the local beliefs, since this incident, Maa comes to her in-laws’ house from heaven on the day of Ashtami and after staying here for a few days, and then returns to her maternal home.
Both the goddesses are symbol of power and prosperity
On Wednesday, this fair begins with the worship of Maa Nanda and Maa Sunanda’s idols. According to the locals, both these goddesses are symbols of power and prosperity. This fair has immense historical significance and it is organized in accordance with the religious beliefs and cultural traditions of the local people. As per the Kumaon’s traditions, this fair is organized for the prosperity of agriculture and life in the region. Additionally, this Maa Nanda-Sunanda festival is especially organized between August-September, when the regional people express their religious faith and community spirit.
Maa Nanda appears in the dreams of devotees and also fulfils their wishes
Nandashtami festival, celebrated on the Ashtami of Bhadra Shukla Paksha, binds the whole of Uttarakhand together. This festival is celebrated in the far-flung areas of Almora, Nainital, Bageshwar, Bhawali and Johar. Locals believe that even today Maa Nanda appears in the dreams of devotees and also fulfils their wishes.