By OUR STAFF REPORTER
DEHRADUN, 11 Oct: The traditional weapon worship ceremony of Tehri State was was observed with ritualistic ardour today on Friday, 11 October 2024, Ashtami Tithi at Samar Niwas, Rajpur Road by the descendants of Tehri Royal family, Rao Kirti Pratap Singh Panwar, Kunwar Bhavani Pratap Singh Panwar and Kunwar Nilay Pratap Singh Panwar and all the members of the royal family. On this occasion, the ancient and important tradition of weapon worship was completed as per traditional customs.
Speaking about this tradition, Rao Kirti Pratap Singh Panwar and Rajkumar Thakur Bhavani Pratap Singh Panwar, descendants of Tehri royal family, while highlighting earlier traditions, said that this tradition was started by the Pawar dynasty in Garhwal state. Maharaj Kanakpal started the ritual of weapon worship on the day of Dussehra from Chandpur Garhi. This tradition was observed with great pomp from Dewalgarh to Srinagar and Tehri.
During the princely era, the treasury was also announced on this day. The process of offering gifts by the Jagirdars and Thokedars from various Thokes was completed in the court along with the worship of the family deity Rajrajeshwari. Along with this, all the family deities and brave men, etc., were also worshipped and remembered. The same tradition of the princely era was carried out.
In the Dussehra pujan, the ritual of weapon worship was done by Thatrajguru Acharya Krishnanand Nautiyal and Madhav Nautiyal ji. Tulsi garland was brought by Harish Dimri ji as Prasad for Lord Shri Badri Vishal ji. On this occasion, the worship of Bhagwati Shri Rajrajeshwari, the family deity of the dynasty, was done with traditional rites. Along with this, the sacrifice ritual was performed; traditionally, Bhujela was sacrificed by Thokdar Thakur, which was performed this year by Major Mahavir Singh Rawat.
On this auspicious occasion all the landlords and wholesalers had congregated from entire Garhwal.
Along with this, there was a discussion about the Nanda Devi Raj Jaat to be organized after 12 years. Thakur Manbar Singh Barkhal, Satinder Singh Barwal, Dhirendra Singh Barwal, Thakur Gaurav Singh Bartwal, Doctor Manvendra Singh Barkhal, Thakur Narendra Singh Rauthan, Pushkar Singh Negi, Doctor Hemant Bisht, Santosh Nautiyal, Swastik Nautiyal, etc., were present in the program.
Members of the royal family, Rao Kirti Pratap Singh Pawar and Prince Thakur Bhavani Pratap Singh Pawar thanked all the dignitaries associated with the tradition of Tehri State for being present on the auspicious occasion of Astra Pooja.
