Devotees throng Baglung Kalika Bhagawati

By Arjun Karki,Baglung, Sept. 23: A large crowd of devotees visited the famous Shakti Peeth, Baglung Kalika Bhagawati Temple, on Ghastasthapana, the first day of Nawaratri.

 Since early Monday morning, devotees thronged the temple to offer their prayers.

Being the main Shakti Peeth of Gandaki Province, devotees from all over the country visit Baglung Kalika during Bada Dashain and Chaite Dashain.

Kumar Khadka, Chairman of the Kalika Bhagawati Guthi Management Committee, said that devotees from across the country come to the temple on Ghatasthapana with the belief that worshipping at the temple will fulfill their wishes. He added that devotees who were returning from Muktinath after performing the Shora Shradha rituals also visited the temple, contributing to the crowd on the first day of Dashain.

Due to the increase in devotees, police, volunteers, and temple management staff have been deployed to maintain order. 

 Khadka said that special plans have been made to manage security and crowd control throughout Dashain, as the temple sees a heavy influx of devotees during the festival.

Visitors to the temple especially believe that they will be blessed with a son if they do not have one, children if they are childless, a suitable spouse if unmarried, and success in examinations. Recently, the number of Indian devotees visiting the temple has also been increasing, Khadka added.

Historically, King Mukund Sen of Palpa married his daughter to King Pratapanarayan Malla of Parbat in 1591. As part of the dowry, the daughter brought the Maajhki Devi along with her and established her ceremonially on the banks of the Kaligandaki River.

Apart from the Nepali months of Magh and Saun, the temple sees visitors throughout the year. Khadka said that the temple is especially crowded on Tuesdays, Saturdays, and Ashtami, as well as on various other auspicious dates. The number of devotees is lower during Magh and Saun because sacrifices are not performed in these months.

Animals such as chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, and buffaloes are sacrificed at the temple, though recently, the sacrifice of pigeons has been prohibited.