Chhayanath Dham pilgrimage begins

By Hari Krishna Aidi,Mugu, Aug. 3: The annual pilgrimage to Chhayanath Dham, located in Chhayanath Rara Municipality Ward No. 2, began in Mugu on Friday.

The pilgrimage commenced with the procession of Lord Shiva's idol from the Chhayanath Temple, accompanied by musicians and security personnel. The pilgrims head through the forest area of Mugum Karmarong Municipality and the former Dolpu village.

Every year, on Shrawan Shukla Ashtami, the idol of the revered deity Chhayanath Thakur is carried from the temple to the sacred site of Chhayanath, marking the beginning of the pilgrimage.

This year, the idol was placed at Chhayanath Tirthadham on Friday and will remain there until Janai Purnima. According to Jana Bahadur Hamal of Chhayanath Rara Municipality Ward No. 2, devotees from Mugu, Jumla, Humla, Kalikot, Dolpa, Dailekh, Jajarkot, Bajura, Achham, Doti and spiritual practitioners like Dhami and Jhankri visit Chhayanath Dham for worship.

“As the pilgrimage period begins, devotees from various districts come seeking blessings from the deity,” said Asine Hamal, a priest at Chhayanath Temple.

According to legend, when Lord Mahadev was carrying the body of Sati Devi, her final remains fell at Chhayanath, making it one of the oldest and most sacred pilgrimage sites.

During the full moon of the month of Shrawan, Hindu devotees from across the country visit the site with the belief that their sins will be cleansed and their wishes fulfilled.

Pilgrims come to Chhayanath to perform Shraddha, Yagya, Bratabandha, and to seek blessings. Some arrive as new shamans; others come to purify deities or sanctify bells and garlands.

The group that departed on Friday will return on the final day of the full moon, after a 9-day journey. On Saturday, which marks Navami, pilgrims will proceed to another sacred site in the district—Ranimoksha Dham—carrying idols of 33 Koti (crore) deities and celestial nymphs (Apsaras). Devotees from outside the district, including Mugu, will also visit to pay their respects.

To mark the occasion, Chhayanath Rara Municipality declared a public holiday across its offices on Friday.

Chhayanath Dham is situated at an altitude of 4,200 meters above sea level.