Lack of publicity overshadows Parvati Cave

By Our Correspondent,Parbat, July 31: Lack of publicity has overshadowed Parvati Cave situated at the border of Kushma Municipality Ward.No. 1 and 2 (Pang and Khurkot). 

As per the religious scriptures, Parvati, the daughter of the Himalaya Parbat, had meditated in this cave to get Mahadev as her husband. In front of the cave, lies a large statue of an elephant’s trunk and the statue of Parvati and about 2 kilometres below the cave lies a large waterfall from the Kaligandaki River. 

Kamal Prasad Poudel, a local said, "Pang, the birthplace of Parvati has not got as much attention as it deserved. It has been overshadowed, as it lacks support and promotion from the government."

Yogi Narahari Nath has mentioned in his book Desh Darshan that Pang is the birthplace of the goddess Parvati. It deserved as much attention as the birthplace of Sita but due to the lack of sufficient infrastructure and publicity, people don’t know much about this religious site.

 The locals have demanded that the government should develop this place as a religious destination. The infrastructure development initiative has moved forward after locals formed the Parvati Cave Religious and Tourist Area Development Organisation. 

Chhabilal Poudel, Chairperson of the organisation, said that goddess Parvati's worshipping place in the cave was being conserved. The foot trials outside the cave, places for visitor's stay, temples and bridges are being constructed. So far Rs. 10 million has been spent on the construction of infrastructures, whereas a few infrastructures are still in the construction phase.

Janak Poudel, Vice-President of the organisation, said that works were being carried out for the construction and protection of infrastructure from the budget of the province and local governments. A budget of Rs. 9 million has been allocated by the provincial government for the construction of essential infrastructures needed for the promotion of the place.

 People are facing problems in reaching the cave even though, it is just 30 minutes hike from Kushma Baglung Highway. The road reaching the cave should be blacktopped.

Special worship is performed in the cave during festivals like Balachaturdashi, Swasthani Bratakhata and Shivaratri. Poudel said that to develop the Parvati Dham the places surrounding the Dham are also being upgraded.