Preparatory Meeting Held for Bolbam Pilgrimage in Pokhara

Pokhara – The annual Bolbam pilgrimage in Pokhara, which has been taking place for the past 24 years, is set to be organized on a larger scale this year. The Kedareshwar Mahadevmani Seva Ashram Committee held a preparatory meeting with temple management, lifetime members, advisors, and various organizations to make the upcoming Shravan month pilgrimage more organized and grand.

According to the program coordinator and senior vice-president of the World Hindu Federation, Shankar Kharal, devotees will bathe in the sacred 108 taps at Gaighat and then walk approximately 8 kilometers on foot to offer water at the Kedareshwar Mahadevmani Dham every Monday of Shravan.

Committee Chairperson and Peethadheesh Swami Dr. Chidghan Chaitanya Guru highlighted that while many devotees visit the temple for prayers, fewer participate in the pilgrimage, and encouraged everyone to join at least one Monday to experience the spiritual journey.

Multiple organizations have pledged support for this year’s event, including Miteri Women’s Group (Baidam), Marwari Group Kaski, Nepal-India Business Committee, Organic Zumba, and Santosh Baniya, son of the late Ramji Baniya, who will help manage the distribution of prasad (blessed food) every Monday.

Prominent attendees of the meeting included social worker Buddhinath Adhikari, Durga Adhikari (Radio Safalta), Babita Malla (President, Women’s Network Pokhara–6), Dinesh Paudel (Annapurna Cable Car), Tulsi Dahal (Nepal Red Cross Pokhara–6), and social worker Girdhari Adhikari, who all provided suggestions and expressed support.

Mina Bhattarai, senior vice-president, gave the welcome speech, and Omnath Adhikari, secretary of the committee, conducted the meeting.

As per Vedic astrology, Monday is ruled by Lord Shiva, and special Shiva worship during the month of Shravan is considered highly auspicious. The Bolbam pilgrimage is conducted with the sacred chant “Bolbam ko dhwanile, shanti paun saarale” (Let the sound of Bolbam bring peace to all).