‘NANDA
DEVI RAJ JAT’ is a living example of
faith of the people of Garhwal and Kumaun hill region in Goddess ‘NANDA’ and
Lord Shiva to whom they worship since the puranic days. It is believed that
Lord Shiva had is abode in the vicinity of Trishuli and Kailash mountain ranges
of Garhwal and Kumaun Himalaya. ‘Parwati’, the cosort of Lord Shiva, believed
to have taken rebirth as ‘Nanda’ whom the people hed seen as their daughter.
When ‘Nanda’ decided to go back to Lord Shiva, the people accepted her as
goddess ‘Nanda Devi’. Return of goddess ‘Nanda Devi’ to her in-laws place i.e. the abode of Lord
Shiva must have been a highly sacred and religious event of the time.
Subsequently to commemorate this great religious event i.e. return of Nanda Devi to her in-low place the abode of Lord Shiva,
came to be known as ‘Nanda Devi Raj Jat’. Large number of temple dedicated to
goddess ‘Nanda Devi’ is in existence in Garhwal and kumaun hill region clearly
indicating the deep rooted faith of the people in goddess ‘Nanda
Devi’.
