All Set for Shant Mahayagya in Choordhar: 50,000 Devotees Expected
Shimla, July 22: Preparations are in full swing for the grand Pran Pratishtha and Shant Mahayagya at the Choodeshwar Temple in Choordhar, scheduled for October 11, 2024.
Are district administration of Shimla and Sirmaur equipped enough to handle such a massive gathering of devotees for the Kurud ceremony at the eco-sensitive Choordhar wildlife sanctuary?
How they will accommodate over 50,000 devotees and manage waste at Choordhar from both sides of the treks? How they will manage traffic at Sarahan and Nauradhar?
The Choodeshwar Temple Committee, led by Deputy Commissioner Shimla Anupam Kashyap, held a detailed meeting today here and discussed the arrangements threadbare with Chooreshwar Seva Samiti led by its president BM Nanta and other officials.
Kashyap emphasized the need for coordinated efforts to ensure a smooth and successful event.
He mentioned that around 50,000 devotees from Shimla, Sirmour, Solan, and even Uttarakhand are expected to attend.
Accordingly, arrangements for their stay and food are being prioritized.
A significant highlight of the event will be the completion of the temple construction that will culminate with laying of the Kurd at the temple top. Various deities from Sirmaur, Solan, and Shimla will also grace the occasion.
A base camp will be set up at Kala Bagh, about a kilometer from the main temple, to accommodate devotees coming from Sarahan and Tarahan routes of Shimla.
Similar arrangements will be made for those arriving from Nauhradhar in Sirmaur, with an upcoming meeting scheduled with the district administration of Sirmaur.
The Deputy Commissioner directed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate Chopal to assess all arrangements within a week.
A follow-up meeting will be held in Chopal by the end of the month, involving officials from Solan and Sirmaur to finalize the detailed plan of the Mahayagya.
To ensure an eco-friendly Mahayagya, there will be a complete ban on plastic items, including water bottles.
Continuous water supply will be ensured with the repair of a 5 lakh liter tank by the Jal Shakti Department.
Proper water arrangements will also be made at the base camps and along the routes to the temple.
Shimla's Superintendent of Police, Sanjay Kumar Gandhi, assured that appropriate steps will be taken for traffic management to avoid any inconvenience to the devotees to the road heads from all sides.
He also instructed police officers to conduct geomapping of the area to handle any emergency situations effectively.
Present at the meeting were Himachal Pradesh Congress Committee General Secretary Rajneesh Kimta, Additional Deputy Commissioner Shimla Abhishek Verma, Additional District Magistrate Law and Order Ajit Bhardwaj, President of Choodeshwar Seva Samiti B M Nanta, and other officials.
But Chopal MLA Balbir Verma was conspicuous by his absence that has given it a political colour.
