Special Navadurga Puja at Baladevi Temple in Thulodhunga

Pokhara : This year, a special Navadurga puja will be held at the famous 200-year-old Baladevi Temple located in Thulodhunga, Ward No. 33, Pokhara Metropolitan City.

Rajkumar Lamichhane, Secretary of the Baladevi Temple Conservation and Reconstruction Committee, stated that the puja is being organized with the hope for world peace as well as peace and development in Nepal.

According to Lamichhane, starting from the Ghatasthapana tomorrow, the temple priests, including Basant Prasad Acharya and two other pandits, will conduct regular Durga Saptashati recitations. Special pujas will also be held during Phulpati, Maha Ashtami, and Maha Navami. The flowers and offerings from the temple will be distributed to local households on Vijaya Dashami.

Devotees from Bharatpokhari and surrounding areas visit the temple, believing that the temple possesses divine power and that prayers offered with faith will be fulfilled. Lamichhane noted that while animal sacrifices are not conducted at the temple, devotees from Thulodhunga and nearby areas come with various rituals and offerings.

The temple’s initial construction involved the late Lekh Bahadur Gurung from Ward No. 33, who provided tin sheets and other support. After the temple was built, Dinnath Acharya from the same ward performed the rituals, and later Basant Acharya continued the regular worship up to the present day.

The temple, believed to be over 200 years old, has a unique legend surrounding its origin. According to the legend, around two centuries ago, a pregnant woman traveling from Lekatir stayed overnight near the current temple site. During her stay, she was attacked by a tiger, which led to the birth of a baby girl. The mother was reportedly killed by the tiger, while the child was protected by a serpent. 

Later, the child disappeared, but her divine presence was felt at the site through mysterious cries and sounds. A local lama (Dhami) was consulted, who revealed the events and conveyed that the goddess wished to have a temple built at that place. Consequently, the Baladevi Temple was established in her name and has been continuously worshiped since.

Previously, a small temple was built in 2022 BS, and a new temple was constructed in 2059 BS with collective local efforts. Devotees also perform special pujas on every full moon of Jestha. Earlier, animal sacrifices were offered on this day, but following collective decisions by locals, the practice has been discontinued over the past three years.

The Baladevi Temple Conservation and Reconstruction Committee actively works to protect and develop the temple. Local social worker Motiprasad Acharya donated land for the temple’s construction and has expressed willingness to provide additional land for other essential infrastructure.

Located near the Thulodhunga Chowk on the Birauta-Bagmara road, the temple is easily accessible, and with fully paved roads in recent years, its prominence and sanctity have further increased.