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Dipender Manta
Tribune News Service
Mandi, February 23
As the week-long Shivratri Fair is set to begin from February 25, deities from different parts of the district have started arriving in Mandi.
Deity Kamrunag, the main guest of the event, arrived in the town today along with hundreds of devotees. Later, the devotees visited the premises of the chief deity of the Shivratri Fair, Madho Rai, to pay obeisance. DC Sandeep Kadam, who is the chief of the Shivratri Fair committee, and Kardar Sangh greeted the deity.
People have deep faith in the deity that it may bring good fortune to them and fulfill their wishes. Locals say if someone tries to steal items of the deity, he may lose his eyesight. The deity is known as rain god in the region.
Other deities, including Shukdev of Thatta, Shukdev Hanogi, Goddess Baglamukhi and Budi Bhairva of Pandoh, first reached Paddal Ground and after a spiritual get together, they proceeded to pay obeisance at the Madho Rai temple.
A group of musicians playing traditional instruments will accompany every deity along with caretakers and devotees. All deities, after reaching the town, first pay obeisance at the temple of Raj Madhav, the presiding deity of the town.
The confluence of deities was eye-catching where a large number of devotees joined them. The devotees will stay in temporary camps with their deities till March 2. Majority of deities from far-flung areas are still on their way and will arrive in a day or two.
This year, the district administration has invited a total of 216 deities of the district to take part in the event.
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