Godawari Kunda Mela 2072

Godawari Kunda Entrance Gate on August 18 (Start Day)

Picture By: Subodh Maharjan | www.subodhmaharjan.com.np

प्रत्येक १२ बर्षमा सुर्य र ब्रेहस्पति सिंह राशिमा प्रवेश गरेको बेलामा भाद्र १ गते देखी एक महिनासम्म गोदावरीमा बिशेस मेला लाग्दछ । यस मेलामा गोदावरी स्नान गर्नाले सम्पूर्ण पापहरु पखालिन्छ र रोगहरु नास हुन्छ भन्ने बिस्वास रहिआएको हुँदा देश-बिदेश बाट पनि भक्ताजनाहरु आउने गरिन्छ ।

Godawari is considered as one of the sacred site due to Godawari Kunda (Godawari Spring Pond) Kathmandu Lalitpur. The temple of Siddheshwor Mahadev is beside the Inner Kunda. It is believed that water in the Kunda is originated from the sacred place in India also known as Godawari. There are five Dhunge Dhara (stone tap: popular ancient architecture) from where the pure kunda water flows to outer Kunda from the inner Kunda.

People from around Nepal come to take dip into the Kunda during Godawari Mela (festival). This Mela takes place in every 12 years in the autumn season and people from around the country participate in the fair. The festival runs for about month celebrating different kind of rituals.

History

The festival is said to date back at least 1,000 years to the Lichhavi period, and was later adopted by the Malla kings of the Valley. The crystal clear waters of the springs of Godavari below Phulchoki, the highest mountain on the Valley rim, are said to be linked to a river of the same name in southern India.

Godavari’s holy pond with five dhunge dhara (stone spouts) is believed to have been formed when the oceans were churned and one drop of amrit (nectar) that came out fell on Godavari.

Bahadev Baral, writer of Godavari Mela

Source: Nepali Times

Bahadev Baral, from Godavari has written a book on the Godavari Mela and quotes the legend that 

one of the seven saints of Hinduism, Gautam Rishi, was once grazing his cattle when one of his cows fell off a cliff and died. He asked Lord Shiva to help, and was told to pray to Ganga. That night the river goddess appeared in a dream and the next day the waters of the Ganga somehow came to Godavari, at a time of the auspicious conjunction of Jupiter with the Sun – which happens every 12 years. 

The saint is then supposed to have built the Siddheshwar Temple beside the pond at Godavari Kunda. From that day, the Godavari Mela occurs on this same day Ganga appeared to Rishi, every 12 years.

Photo By: Bikram Rai

Article by: Subodh Maharjan | www.subodhmaharjan.com.np

Reference: Nepali Times