PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE | Lalkuan
Faith, tradition and enthusiasm merged at the historical Bagwal Mela in the Devidhura Dham in Champawat on the occasion of Rakshabandhan on Saturday. This tradition which originally saw men indulging in stone pelting while also wielding shields made from bamboo, now comprises mostly of the participants throwing fruits and flowers on each other.
The Bagwal began on Saturday afternoon after ritual prayers by the priest. Men wearing different coloured clothes and Pagdis donned shields made from bamboo and ringal. A conch was blown to mark their entry in the ground as devotees also began hailing the goddess. A flurry of mostly fruits and flowers began with the start of the Bagwal as the men pelted each other. The Bagwal this year began at 1:58 PM and ended at 2:05 PM.
Among those present on the occasion, Union minister of State Ajay Tamta paid homage to those who died in the recent Dharali disaster. He said that the unique tradition of Bagwal is seen only on the ground of Devidhura. This tradition is also an example of discipline and brotherhood where all the competitors embrace each other after the end of the Bagwal. The minister said that the reconstruction of Ma Varahi Dham has been undertaken at a cost of Rs 19 crore, adding that other development works will continue in the future. Various public representatives along with a large number of people from a number of villages were present on the occasion.
