Shrawan Mela begins in Resunga

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT Tamghas, July 18: The one-month Shrawan Mela (fair), which did not happen for the past two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic, has begun at Resunga Tapobhumi in Gulmi on Sunday, the first day of Saun, popularly called Saune Sankranti.

Suresh Chandra Bhusal, chairman of the Resunga Preservation Committee, informed that taking a holy dip in the Siddha pond of Resunga for the whole month of Shrawan (July/August) during the month-long fair will destroy the sins committed until now. 

Bhusal said that there is a belief that visiting the Siddha temple after taking bath in the Siddha pond will please the dead ancestors.

He said that during the month-long fair they would recite religious texts and perform yagya (ritual done in front of a sacred fire, often with mantras) at Sidhha temple. 

They would daily perform worship  to Rudri, Chandi , Shiva and others and recite  the ‘Veda Parayan Path’ and ‘Pitri Parayan’. He added that different programmes are organised and the Path Parayan is recited by 10 Vatukas (young priests).

Resunga is one of the religious, mythological, historical and naturally important and beautiful holy sites in Nepal. It has, of late, gained popularity among tourists. Resunga hill spreads from  800 metres to 2,350 meters above sea level. 

There are various tales and myths associated with the naming of the hill as Resunga. 

Some say that the hill was named after Maharishi Rishya, who believed to have meditated here during the Treta era. Other say that the place was the land of Magar people and it was  named after adding suffix to a Magar word ‘Resh’ which means taking bath. 

Meanwhile, there is another tale associated with the hill. According to this,  Lord Krishna used to recite story from this hill to Arjun who would receive it from Arjun hill.

Many people visit this place during Harishayani and Haribodini Ekadashi and in the month of Shrawan. 

There is a 40 feet high view tower at the top of Resunga. People can view most of the land of Gulmi including the places of Baglung, Syangja, Arghakhanchi, Palpa and Pyuthan districts from this view tower.

Realising its importance and prevalence, different organisations from different sectors have shown their interest for promotion and protection of this place and are preparing a master plan for its development.

 Stakeholders said that the development of this place would take faster if rural tourism programmes such as paragliding, rock climbing, hiking, horse riding, and mountain biking are added and promoted.