People throng Ruru to celebrate New Year 2079

BY TILACHAN PANDEY

Tamghas, Apr 15 : People thronged Setibeni and Ridi to worship Shila Shaligram and take a bath in the Kali Gandaki River on the occasion of the beginning of Nepali New Year (NY), Thursday.

The places are situated on the bank of the confluence of Ridi River and the Kali Gandaki River separating three districts – Palpa, Gulmi and Syangja. 

“Bathing in the Kali Gandaki washes away the sins. It is why there is a crowd at Ridi,” said Brihaspati Basyal, a 65-year-old from Paiyun Rural Municipality of Parbat.

The confluence of the three districts falls under Ruru Kshetra, also known as Ridi, one of the four major religious sites of Hindus in Nepal. 

Sage Devdatta is said to have meditated in Ruru Kshetra centuries ago.

Basyal added, “Those arriving at the river also worship the Shila Shaligram, the biggest Shaligram (stone) in Asia, in Setibeni, tri-junction of the three districts.”

Other than the New Year Day, pilgrims arrive at the river to take bath on different other religious occasions and fairs organised on the river bank annually.

Many people also visit Rishikesh Temple in Ruru Kshetra to pay their homage. Fairs are organised in the area during the Nepali New Year, Asare Ekadashi, Kartike Ekadashi and Maghe Sankranti among others. 

On the occasion of the first day of Nepali New Year 2079 B.S. on Thursday, a fair was organised in Ridi and pilgrims celebrated the day by taking a dip in the river, worshipping the temples and singing prayer songs.

People were also seen setting up small shops in the fair and selling local products like bamboo baskets (doko), flat tray (nanglo), and broom (kuchho) among others.

Meanwhile, some senior pilgrims argued that the love for culture and tradition had declined among the new generation.

“The festivals on the bank of Kali Gandaki were a sight to behold in the past. Nowadays, youths are not active to learn and celebrate their culture. I request the new generation to give some time for their identity,” said Khimlal Pandey, a 78-year-old from Ward No. 1 of Kaligandaki Rural Municipality of Syangja.

In a bid to manage the crowd and make the celebration safe, the police have also intensified their security.

“During the fair, many people get drunk and vehicles carry excess number of passengers due to which we have increased surveillance in the fair and checking in the roads,” said Superintendent of Police (SP) Bhim Bahadur Dahal of Gulmi District Police Office.