NANDA DEVI RAJ JAT YATRA
It is belived that the ‘Nanda Devi’ in its present form started someone during 9th century AD by the ancestors of the king of Garhwal, the king of Chandpur Garhi, with a guidance of his ‘Brahmin’ Guru from village Nauti, had established the holy ‘Yatra’ representing goddess ‘Nanda’ under a raised platform where the king used to worship and also hold prayer meeting. The ancient tradition of each sub-group taking ‘Nanda Jats’ individually was combined by the king into one royal pilgrimage which was performed once in twelve year. Letter on Raja Ajay Pal (Sheshpal) of Chandpur Garhi started the ‘Nanda Devi Raj Jat’ sametime during 15th century AD. Thereafter the pilgrimage is being traditionally led and performred by the successors of the family. ‘Nanda Devi Raj Jat’, the members of the royal family alongwith their ‘Purohit’ seek forgiveness from ‘Nanda Devi’ and offer ‘Tarpan’ (a ritual follwed by Hindus to remember and to offer food to their dead ancestors) for their ancestors who died at Roopkund alongwith his pregnant wife and courtesan.
After the shifting of Panwar dynasty, the responsibility of performing Puja and Nanda Davi Raj Jat after every twelve year fell on his younger brother who continued to live at ‘kansuwa’ near Chandpur Garhi. It is to be believed that a four horned ram takes birth in any one of the house well before the next due date of ‘Raj Jat’ which is accepted as the arrival of ‘Nanda Devi’ to her birth place or mother home. The automatically brings joy and happiness among the whole population of the area and blessing of goddess ‘Nanda’ for the well being of the people. The unique but ancient tradition of ‘puranic’ era has brought the people closest to their god and goddesses because they treat ‘Nanda Devi’ as their daughter asw well as a deity. In brief, the traditional puja of Nanda Devi and the raj jat (yatra) is conducted and led by the kuwars (Prince) of kansuwa under the guidance Brahmin Purohits of village Nauti after every twelve and more year. The puja involves sending back of nanda devi to her in-laws home i.e. the abode of Lord Shiva. Nanda Devi is seen in the form of ‘Four horned ram’ and a living symble of daity as well as daughter. The puja and the long pilgrimage is accompanied by puja songs and jaggar Geet conveying the deep faith of the people in Goddesses Nanda Devi on one hand and heart felt sorrow and painful separation rfom Nanda Devi due to har deparuture to har in-laws home i.e. the abode of Lord Shiva.
The
route of the ‘Raj Jat’ involves 280 km of trekking starting from village Nauti,
25 km from karanprayag to finally reaching up to the height of 17500 ft
mountain ranges coverd with snow before the send off of goddess Nanda (four
horned ram) to the abode the lord Shiva towards Kailash (Trishuli Peak). The last
‘Nanda Devi Raj Jat’ was preformed from 22 August, 2000 with nineteen halts in
route. Special arrangements are made enroute at each halt to enable thousands of devotees from from the
surrounding village to offer prayer, participate in the ‘puja’ and seek
blessings of goddess Nanda before bidding final farewell…. Other attractions of the Raj Jat is that
Chhatoli (specially prepared umbrella of ‘Ringal’ canewood carrying doli of
their family deities and also of Nanda Devi) representing various groups of
village are brought to participate in the pilgrimage after performing ‘Puja’
and other rituals in accordance to the laid down traditions of the past.
The 280 km trekking route of ‘Nanda Devi
Raj Jat’ is follows :-
From village 1.
Nauti 2.
Erabadhani 3.
Nauti 4.
Kansuwa 5.
Sem 6.
Chandpur Garhi 7.
Koti 8.
Bhagoti 9.
Kulsari 10.
Chepron 11.
Nandkeshri 12.
Faldiya Gaun 13.
Mundoli 14.
Wan 15.
Gairoli Patal 16.
Patar Nachoniya 17.
Jyunragalidhar 18.
Shila samudra
(17,500 ft) 19.
Homkund.After the final prayer return via 1.
Chandniyaghat 2.
Sutol 3.
Ghat 4.
Nauti 
