Kutara/Dalgaon/Shimla: After nearly four decades, the sacred Bhunda Mahayagya of Bakraloo Devta is set to make a grand return in the Spail Valley of Rohru, one of the major apple valley of Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh.

 As 2024 draws to a close, the culturally rich and historically significant Bhunda will once again be celebrated by the people of Dalgaon, Kutara, and surrounding villages, marking a pivotal moment in the valley’s spiritual calendar.

This ancient ritual, last performed in 2013 at Bachoonch in Mangalgarh, has deep roots in the erstwhile Bushair State, the royal lineage of which includes late Virbhadra Singh, a towering political figure and a six-time CM of Himachal,  whose son, Vikramaditya Singh, is its present scion,  now serves as the PWD minister  in the present government.

The Bhunda is a rare and elaborate event, historically conducted to appease local deities and safeguard the community from malevolent spirits.

In its heart lies the Beda ritual, a high-risk rope stunt that symbolizes the delicate balance between mortal life and divine intervention.

The Beda, chosen from a designated family by the Devta, slides down  about a 100-m Munji ki Rassi (a sacred rope made from local fibers) tied between two elevated points.

Sandbags are strapped to his back to provide balance as he makes the perilous descent to the chants and rituals of the gathered devotees. 

Even local administration also lays the safety nets to save the Human Beda in case he loses the balance and falls. 

 But previously, no such olive branch was allowed to  the the Human Beda. 

 If the Beda survives the  shooting descent, he is celebrated as a divine vessel, showered with gifts and honors by the Devta and the community. However, should he fall or perish, it is seen as the Devta’s will.

Beda, who has already taken residence in the Dalgaon temple, is being treated with great reverence by the villagers, who serve him food and worship him daily until the ritual commences. No outsiders can meet him for the entire period. 

This time-honored practice is passed down through generations.

It connects the people of the Bushair state with their ancestors and divine  guardians- Bakraloo Devta, Uktanga and others who come to  Dalgaon for the Bhunda Mahayagya.

Raghunath Jamta,  main Kardar of Devta Bakraloo, shared that preparations are well underway, with the Munji Rassi being woven as per tradition, and that the exact date of the Bhunda will be determined by the Devta’s assembly that will meet here shortly to seek the actual date for the Bhunda Mahayagya.

There was a time when Bhunda used to take place every 12 years. But it  is celebrated as per collective will of entire  Biradari  of  the Devta  as it involves lot of expenditure not afforded by  many families as well.

But upcoming Bhunda Mahayga of Dalgaon  has become even more special due to its long hiatus, last seen in 1985 in the same valley.

The Bhunda Mahayagya has an illustrious past, with legends tracing it back centuries. It was held in the  villages  of the  erstwhile Rampur Bushair state.

The Human Beda was synonymous with human sacrifice as the chances of survival was slime that point of time in the past, say the old timers of the valley.   

It is said that the ritual was once held to placate the Devtas and keep evil forces at bay, a tradition that continues to resonate deeply with the local population.

The event involves not just Bakraloo Devta but other deities like Ektanga Devta from nearby Kutara, who will also play a role in the proceedings.

2013 Bhunda Mahayagya  of Bachoonch  followed by a robbery.  The robbers broke into the temple, killed the temple’s chowkidar, and made off with seven idols of the deity, along with valuable gold and silver jewelry. They could not enter the main treasury of the Devta. 

A nationwide alert was issued, and the stolen idols were later recovered after an extensive investigation that led to the arrest of the culprits—a gang five thieves from Nepal.

The idols were found buried near Khadrala, and were promptly re-enshrined in the Bachnooch Devta temple, reaffirming the community’s faith in their Devta’s protection.

In the lead-up to the 2024 Bhunda, a delegation led by Chief Parliamentary Secretary Mohan Lal Brakta, who hails from Kutara  met Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu to discuss the preparations.

The Chief Minister assured the delegation of full support, emphasizing the cultural and historical importance of the Bhunda Mahayagya for the people of the region.

"The state's deep-rooted belief in local deities and this grand event highlights our rich cultural heritage," CM Sukhu stated, vowing to ensure that the government provides all necessary logistical and infrastructural support to make the event a success.

The last Bhunda in Bachoonch saw over 100,000 participants, and similar numbers are expected this time as well, with devotees eager to witness the ritual and seek the Devta’s blessings.

The Bhunda is more than just a religious ceremony—it is a powerful symbol of the valley’s identity, reflecting the unbroken bond between the people and their divine protectors.

As Spail Valley gears up for this monumental event, the revival of the Bhunda Mahayagya in its modern avatar brings forth a profound sense of continuity, where faith, tradition, and community converge.