Jai bolo Nanda Devi ki

 Nanda Devi Mela is being celebrated in Nainital these days

Nanda Devi is the presiding deity of Kumaoun. It is said that Devi Parvati in her part reincarnation was born in the family of Kumaoun King. Sunanda was her sister. The Nanda Devi Mela is the most important festival of Kumaoun and is held in honour of Goddesses Nanda  and Sunanda Devi.

The story goes that Nanda and Sunanda once went in to a forest and a bull buffalo chased them. They tried to hide under different type of vegetations but finally got refuge in a banana tree forest. A goat came there and ate away the banana leaves with the result that Nanda and Sunanda were visible to the bull buffalo, which killed both  sisters. This is said to be the reason that goat and bull buffalo are sacrificed during the Nanda celebrations.

The Nanda Devi fair commences from Bhadrapad Shukla Panchami in September. On the Panchami day the devotees go to invite Banana trees for the celebrations. Amidst chanting of Ved Mantras, four Banana Trees are selected by the devotees. The tree, which shivers first, is selected to prepare the Nanda Devi idols. The second tree is used to prepare the idol of Sunanda. The third and the fourth Banana trees are kept as stand by, so that in case the first or the second tree is damaged/disfigured, the third or the fourth is used as substitute. On the seventh day, the four trees are cut and amidst great fanfare are brought to the place in temple where Nanda & Sunanda idols are to be prepared. The idols are prepared out of trunks of the banana tree. The support structure of faces of  Nanda and Sunanda is made out of cane wood and banana trunk pieces becomes the base, over which is draped yellow cloth to give it the shape of a face. The faces of Nanda and Sunanda are then drawn. Earlier the eyes were made from liquid rice ( called biswar). Now the eyes are mostly prepared from silver. The idols are decorated with the traditional attirvami ( the nath  of a Kumaoni bride)

The main celebrations  are held on Astami. On nineth day (Navami), bull buffalo & goats were slaughtered as sacrificial offering to Devi Nanda and the meat distributed as Prasad. Now this sacrificial practice has been stopped.

Tthe Nanda Devi & Sunanda Devi idols are taken round the town with great fanfare. The idols are finally  immersed in the lake or river. During the fair, people dance in groups and sing Jhore, Chanchari, Bhagnaul Bair etc. The dance is accompanied by Hurka, a traditional Kumaoni small drum. Folk dancers come in large numbers and dance in groups to the tune of songs, bagpipes and Hurka. 

For more details and lovely pictures, please visit http://www.nainitaltourism.com/Nanda_Devi_Mela.html.