PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/ Nainital
On the occasion of Nandastami, the idols of Mother Nanda Sunanda, installed in the revered Naina Devi temple, were opened for the devotees for darshan and puja.
While the temple was decorated with flowers, garlands and colourful lights, the devotees stood in long queues for a darshan of the Mother. A heavy police force has been deployed for security purposes.
A member of the festival’s organising body, Shri Ram Sevak Sabha, Mukesh Joshi Mantu said that after the puja was performed, the court of Maa Nanda Sunanda has been opened for the devotees. “A long queue of devotees is being seen since 3 AM. Along with the puja, various programmes are also being organised from today till September 23. Dola Nagar tour will be organised on September 23,” he added.
The executive member of the Sabha, Kailash Joshi stated that this is the 124th year of the Nanda Devi Festival. “Devotion is discernible everywhere,” he added.
Meanwhile, devotees from far-off places have been streaming into the shrine premises to pay obeisance to the Mother.
A devotee from Ramnagar, Shobha Manral said that they awaited the whole year to have darshan of the Mother.
Another devotee Prema said that they participate in the celebration with enthusiastic devotion from the banana tree rituals to the dola ceremony.
