From Nagarkot to the Nawar Valley: Ancient Faith Renewed as Daroti Gears Up for Sri Droteshwari Mata’s Pran Pratishtha
DAROTI (SHIMLA): In the serene expanses of the majestic Nawar valley, history, faith, and community spirit are converging. After a decade of painstaking construction and devotion, the newly revamped Sri Droteshwari Mata Temple and Bhord Devta Mandir in Daroti village are ready for their grand Pran Pratishtha Mahotsav, scheduled for November 21, 2026.
Ahead of the sacred ceremony, the temple is set to retrace an ancient spiritual link that binds the hills of Shimla with the historic plains of Kangra.
The Ancient Daroti–Nagarkot Connection
For the residents of Daroti and the surrounding Nawar region, the restoration of the temple is a revival of a centuries-old legacy. According to local lore and oral tradition, the presiding deity, Sri Droteshwari Mata, shares a deep-rooted history with Kangra.
"Droteshwari Mata originally came to Daroti from Nagarkot in the distant past," explained Prem Pal Ranta, an eminent resident of Daroti and a former District and Sessions Judge.
Highlighting the emotional and spiritual gravity of the upcoming pilgrimage (Tirth Yatra), Ranta noted that following the decade-long architectural revamp of the shrine, the Devi is embarking on a homecoming of sorts to her ancestral roots.
"From here, the Yatra will first travel to Nagarkot in Kangra, proceed onward to the holy banks of Haridwar, and then return home to the valley," Ranta said. "The Kul Devta will arrive in the village on the morning of November 20, marking an auspicious Divya Milan (divine union) right here in Daroti on the eve of the main consecration."
Youth Lead the Way: "Swachh Gaon, Swasth Gaon"
As the countdown to the sacred return begins, the younger generation stepped forward today to ensure the deity receives a spotless welcome. A dedicated team of National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers from Government Senior Secondary School (GSSS) Tikkar, accompanied by faculty members, arrived in Daroti to spearhead a massive cleanliness drive.
Showing remarkable enthusiasm and civic duty, the students swept through the newly built temple complex, cleared the approaches, and sanitized the surrounding village paths. Beyond preparing the grounds for the influx of thousands of devotees, the volunteers used the campaign to champion a broader social message across the valley: "Swachh Gaon, Swasth Gaon" (Clean Village, Healthy Village).
A Valley United in Celebration
With a collective invitation issued on behalf of the entire village of Daroti, huge crowds from across Nawar Tikkar and adjoining areas are expected to gather on November 20 and 21.
For the villagers who have watched the timber and stone of the Sri Droteshwari Mata and Bhord Devta shrines rise over the last ten years, the upcoming Mahotsav is more than a ritual—it is a celebration of generational perseverance, youthful service, and a timeless spiritual bridge stretching from Kangra to the heart of Shimla's hills.
