Delegation meets Minister Satpal Maharaj
Garhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 27 Jun: A delegation from the Maa Nanda Devi Rajrajeshwari Siddh Peeth Kurud Temple, Nandanagar Block, part of the Badi Nanda Jaat–2026 Organising Committee, met State Tourism, Religious Affairs, Culture, PWD, Irrigation, Panchayati Raj, Rural Construction and Watershed Minister Satpal Maharaj, today, at his private residence on Circular Road, here.
The delegation apprised the minister of a long-standing issue regarding the official route map of the Shri Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra 2026, which is scheduled to be organised by the state government. As per ancient tradition, the king’s representatives from Kanswa—descendants of the royal lineage—travel from Nauti to Nandkesari, bringing offerings and prayers to Maa Nanda Devi, their family Deity, at Kurud’s Siddh Peeth Temple. The rituals are carried out by the Gaud and Brahmin Badhan priests of Kurud, following time-honoured customs.
They further informed the minister that while annual “Chhoti Jaat” (folk pilgrimage) and once-every-12-years “Badi Jaat” (royal pilgrimage) are conducted from this shrine, the Kurud and Devrala halts have not been included in the official route map of the Raj Jaat, which is often referred to as the Himalayan Mahakumbh due to its spiritual and cultural significance.
The delegation requested that Kurud and Devrala be officially recognised as major halts and integrated into the formal Nanda Devi Raj Jaat Yatra route map. In response, Minister Satpal Maharaj assured them that the matter would be thoroughly examined, and efforts would be made to resolve the issue appropriately.
The delegation included Dhaneeram Gaud, Prakash Chandra Gaud, Janardan Prasad Gaud, Rakesh Chandra Gaud, Ashok Prasad Gaud, Vipul Maindoli, Jagat Singh Negi, Raghunath Farswan, Sunil Kothiyal, Manish Negi, Deepak Pant, Gambhir Rawat, and Vijendra Rawat — all members of the Badi Nanda Jaat–2026 Organising Committee.
