Almora: The grand procession of Maa Nanda and Sunanda will be held in Almora on Wednesday as part of the Nanda Devi Mela 2026. The farewell rituals for the idols will begin in the afternoon, followed by the departure of the doli from the temple premises.
According to the temple committee, Chanda dynasty descendant Yuvraj Narendra Chandra Raj Singh will perform the farewell puja of the idols at 1 pm. After the rituals, formal worship will be conducted at 3:30 pm, following which the doli of Maa Nanda-Sunanda will leave the temple premises.
The procession will begin after the doli completes a circumambulation of the Maa Nanda Devi Temple. It will then pass through the designated route and move through the market areas of Almora. A large number of devotees are expected to participate in the procession.
The idols of Maa Nanda and Sunanda will be immersed at Dugalkhola Naula at around 6:30 pm. The immersion ceremony will be carried out according to traditional rituals after the completion of the procession.
Chief cultural coordinator Arjun Singh Bisht Cheema appealed to residents of Almora and people from surrounding areas to participate in the procession in large numbers. He said the participation of devotees would add to the scale of the procession and provide an opportunity for people to receive the blessings of Maa Nanda-Sunanda.
Appeal to owners of old and damaged buildings
The committee has also issued a safety appeal ahead of the procession. Arjun Singh Bisht Cheema urged owners of dilapidated buildings to ensure that devotees do not gather on their rooftops or inside severely damaged structures during the procession.
The appeal has been made in view of the possibility of accidents involving old or structurally weak buildings. The committee has asked devotees to follow the arrangements and safety guidelines while participating in the procession.
The procession and subsequent immersion will mark the conclusion of the key religious rituals associated with Maa Nanda-Sunanda during the Nanda Devi Mela 2026.
