Sacred Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra Postponed to 2027 Over Weather Fears
The Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra, a revered and challenging pilgrimage in Uttarakhand, will not happen this year. The Raj Jat committee has officially postponed the event to 2027. They cited severe and unpredictable weather conditions in September as the primary reason for this decision.
Committee Meeting Leads to Unanimous Decision
Committee members gathered in Karnprayag on Sunday to discuss the yatra's fate. After thorough deliberations, all stakeholders agreed to delay the pilgrimage. This move has sparked widespread discussions across the region.
Rakesh Kunwar, the committee chairman, announced the postponement. He explained that the auspicious dates for this year's yatra fell on September 19 and 20, following Malmaas, an inauspicious period. Kunwar emphasized that conducting the yatra in September poses significant risks.
"The pilgrimage route traverses snow-clad peaks and high Himalayan reaches," Kunwar stated. "September has recently experienced erratic weather, early snowfall, and extreme cold. These conditions could endanger pilgrims."
He further noted that hailstorms, rain, snowfall, and cold weather must be considered. Additionally, some infrastructure work remains incomplete. "Therefore, holding the yatra in 2027 is the appropriate course of action," Kunwar concluded.
Safety Concerns and Infrastructure Delays
Bhuwan Nautiyal, the committee secretary, provided more details. A five-member team inspected the route in August last year. They determined that conducting the pilgrimage in the second half of September would be unsafe.
"Landslides, heavy rainfall, and glacial breaks pose serious threats," Nautiyal said. "Erratic climate conditions and resulting disasters were the main reasons for postponing the yatra."
He also mentioned that district authorities wrote to the committee. Repeated natural disasters in the district last year diverted attention from necessary infrastructure projects for the pilgrimage.
Historical Significance and Past Postponements
The Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra is a centuries-old ritual procession dedicated to goddess Nanda Devi. She is considered the presiding deity of the central Himalayas. This pilgrimage occurs once every twelve years.
It symbolically retraces the goddess's farewell journey from her maternal home in the Garhwal Himalayas to her mythical abode near Mount Kailash. The yatra covers a rugged trail of nearly 280 kilometers over three weeks.
Participants pass through remote villages, alpine meadows, and high mountain passes. The route includes the challenging 16,000-foot Roopkund–Juni Pass stretch. The event attracts lakhs of devotees, seers, and tourists from across India.
Officials pointed out that the yatra has faced delays before. It was postponed in 2012 and could not be held in 2013 following the Kedarnath tragedy. The pilgrimage eventually took place in 2014. Historical records show previous postponements in:
- 1905
- 1925
- 1951
- 1968
- 1987
- 2000
These delays resulted from a combination of natural calamities and astrological reasons.
New Pilgrimage Announced in Response
Meanwhile, representatives from approximately 484 villages in Chamoli district held a mahapanchayat in Gopeshwar on Monday. They announced a new pilgrimage called the ‘Nanda Badi Jaat Yatra’. This event will follow similar lines as the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra.
A committee was formed to organize the proposed yatra. They will announce the dates on January 23, which coincides with Basant Panchami. Interestingly, the Raj Jat committee also plans to reveal revised dates for the next Raj Jat Yatra on the same day.
Sukhbeer Singh Rautela, vice-president of the newly formed committee, shared his perspective. "We disagree with the decision to postpone the Nanda Raj Jat Yatra," he told TOI. "Therefore, we will organize a yatra on similar lines. Our committee will meet the chief minister and the district magistrate to discuss infrastructure issues for the Nanda Badi Jaat Yatra."
