NandaDevi Raj Jat Yatra

Nanda Raj Jat Yatra takes place every 12 years in Uttarakhand. The continuity of this tradition for five thousand years speaks of the tremendous faith that is widespread among the people of Kumaun and Garhwal. Nanda Devi is considered as the Isht- Devi, by the hill folk. The royal family of Garhwal conducts the Nanda Raj Jat to please the Isht- Devi, in order to seek blessings for a prosperous kingdom and the defecit of their enemies. Her relationship with the people is just the same as that of Sita with Mithila, similarly Gaura is known to be the daughter of Uttarakhand. Daughter of the king of mountains, Himavat. Gaura was married to the ash- smeared, leapord skin wearing yogi. It is popularly believed that according to the Indian calendar, during the Krishna Paksha of Bhado (2nd week of August) the Devi visits her mother's place and the event is celebrated with the performance of special rituals and prayers on Nanda Ashtami in the numerous Nanda devi temples spread all over the Garhwal and Kumaon regions.

The event marks the coming of Nanda Devi to her mother's place (mait). During this time Uttarakhand reverberates with festivities. The event finishes when the people of her maiti (mother home), escort her in a procession is called the Nanda Jat. The entire scene is beautifully protrayed in the folk songs and jagars sung by the woman of Uttarakhand. Such Nanda jats are held in almost all the places in the hills, where there is a Nanda Devi temple. Every Garhadhipatis in the hills took out Nanda Jats to place the Isht -Devi. Every Twelve years the Nanda Raj Jat replaces the annual Raj Jat on the route of Homkund, from the temple of Nanda Devi. The dolis of other devtas also know as the 'Birs of Nanda Devi' also join the Raj Jat..The Goril dev of Kumaon and the Lattu Dev of Bandhan are the prominent devtas.

This Raj jat yatra originates from the kurur village 30 km from nandprayag,in ghat tahsil of Uttarakhand. The Kunwar of village Kansua inaugurates the ceremony. The legend is this that Nanda Devi, consort of Lord Shiva left her village and went to the nanda devi parbat. Therefore when the yatra starts, heavy rain occurs as if the devi is crying.  

The festivities come to a standstill, when the time comes for the Devi to leave for her sauras (husband’s home). Special prayers and rituals are performed and the offerings are loaded on the four- horned Ram just like the things given to a daughter in her marriage are sent. The deity is decorated like a bride, ready to leave for her husband’s home. The scene becomes pathetic when the devotees, in tears, bid farewell to the Devi, as if they are bidding farewell to their own daughter.