KATHMANDU,
The Sawa Lakh Rot festival started today. Ramaji Aryal, central chairman of the center 'Siddhashram Shakti Kendra' has started the 19th Rot Festival at Gorakhnath cave. Today, a chariot journey was made from Gorkha Bazaar to Durbar including various musical instruments.
Pokhara Street Festival begins (photo feature)
Shakti Kendra seekers and locals were present on the journey. Every year, the Siddhashram Shakti Kendra has been holding the festival for 11 days from the full moon day of Baisakh and offering 'rot' as the day when King Prithvi Narayan Shah's Guru Gorakhnath appeared. One hundred thousand 'rots' are offered during this festival.
The Rot Festival held at Gorkha Durbar has not been very exciting for the last two years due to Corona. Now, as the fear of Corona has decreased, there has been a significant presence of devotees on the first day. The organizers expect 20,000 to 25,000 devotees to participate in the Rot Festival this time.
Kishor Kumar Akela, coordinator of Siddhashram Shakti Kendra Liaison Office, Gorkha, said that the Rot Mahotsav would last for 11 days in the presence of hundreds of devotees by chanting and reciting hymns and offering prayers on Gorakhnath and Gorakhkali temple premises. The Siddhashram Shakti Kendra has also provided free food and accommodations to the devotees coming for the Rot Mahotsav.
