Nanda Devi Raj Jat
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| Nanda Devi Raj Jat | |
|---|---|
 The sacred four-horned ram (Chausingya-Meda) leading the procession through high-altitude terrain. | |
| Also called | Himalayan Mahakumbh |
| Observed by | Hindus, particularly the people of Garhwal and Kumaon |
| Type | Cultural, Religious, Royal |
| Celebrations | A 280 km trek through 20+ stops involving sacred yagna and doli processions. Next: 2027 (Postponed from 2026)[1] |
| Date | Varies per Hindu Lunisolar calendar (Held once every 12 years) |
| Related to | Goddess Nanda Devi, Shiva |
The Nanda Devi Raj Jat (नंदा देवी राज जात) is a world-renowned three-week-long pilgrimage and cultural festival of Uttarakhand, India. Often described as the "Himalayan Mahakumbh," it is organized once every 12 years in the Chamoli district. The journey signifies the symbolic departure of Goddess Nanda Devi—revered as the daughter of the Himalayas—from her maternal home (Mait) in Nauti to her husband's home (Sauraas) in Mount Kailash.
Connection to Durga Saptashati
The worship of Nanda Devi is deeply rooted in ancient Vedic and Puranic literature.[citation needed]
Theologically, Nanda Devi is identified with the supreme goddess mentioned in the Devi Mahatmya (also known as the Durga Saptashati). In the Murti Rahasya (The Secret of the Forms) section of the text, Nanda is described as the foundational energy of the universe.[2] Specifically, it is believed that the goddess Nanda took birth in the house of Nanda Baba (the foster father of Krishna) as the daughter of Yashoda, serving as the power that facilitated the destruction of the demon Kansa. In Uttarakhand, this celestial lineage is celebrated through the Raj Jat, where she is treated as a beloved daughter of the mountain soil returning to the peaks of Kailash.[3]