https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Godavari_MelaGodavari Mela - Revision history2026-08-18T11:47:50ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Godavari_Mela&diff=394838&oldid=prevGeniaKinslow32: Created fresh page content.2023-07-17T11:26:43Z<p>Created fresh page content.</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Hindu festival occurring every 12 years in Lalitpur, Nepal}}<br />
[[File:Godawari Temple, Godawari Mela1.jpg|thumb|Godawari Mela]]<br />
'''Godavari Mela ({{lang-ne|गोदावरी मेला}})''' or ''Simhastha Mela'' is a traditional Hindu festival celebrated every 12 years in Godavari, at [[Lalitpur District, Nepal|Lalitpur district]] of Nepal. The festival attracts Hindu pilgrims from all over Nepal, India and some foreign tourists. Pilgrims believe that taking a dip in the holy spout during the festival washes away their sins. The festival was started in the [[Licchavi (kingdom)|Lichhavi period]].<ref name='nt01'>{{Cite web| last = Huët| first = Stéphane| title = Godavari Mela every 12 years - Nepali Times Buzz - Nepali Times| accessdate = 2023-07-17| url = https://archive.nepalitimes.com/article/Nepali-Times-Buzz/godavari-mela-every-12-years,2517}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| last = Nasana| title = Thousands visiting Godavari Mela| work = The Himalayan Times| accessdate = 2023-07-17| date = 2015-09-13| url = https://thehimalayantimes.com/kathmandu/thousands-visiting-godavari-mela}}</ref><ref name="rep01">{{Cite web| last = Bureau| first = The Week| title = Grand celebrations| work = My Republica| accessdate = 2023-07-17| url = http://myrepublica.nagariknetwork.com/news/56164/}}</ref> The festival is celebrated for one month. Millions of people visit the festival.<ref name='nt01'/><br />
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==Festival procession==<br />
The festival begins after priests and devotees leave Harisiddhi temple in early morning to Godavari escorted by traditional musical orchestras.<ref name='nt01'/> The main priest, pours milk into the Godavari pond, take a holy dip. It is then followed by 28 other priests. The pond has five stone spouts which are believed to have been formed during samundra manthan and a drop of Amrit (nectar) fell at the Godavari and the other fell in Nasik in India.<ref name='nt01'/><ref name="rep01"/><br />
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Pilgrims visit the Siddeshowr Mahadev and Godavari Ganga temples. During the festival, the road from Patan to Godavari is crowded with buses, people and shops.<ref name='nt01'/> Local produce are showcased in the stalls. Volunteers, including Scouts and Red-cross manages the festival under the organization committee.<ref>{{Cite web| title = गोदावरी मेला आज सकिने| work = Radio Thaha Sanchar| accessdate = 2023-07-17| url = https://www.thahasanchar.com/news/18718/%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8B%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B5%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80-%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%B2%E0%A4%BE-%E0%A4%86%E0%A4%9C-%E0%A4%B8%E0%A4%95%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%A8%E0%A5%87/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web| title = Kantipur-१२ वर्षे मेला सञ्चालनमा समस्या - कान्तिपुर समाचार| accessdate = 2023-07-17| url = https://ekantipur.com/ampnews/2015-02-25/404385.html}}</ref><br />
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==Mythology==<br />
According to the mythology, when a Hindu saint named Gautam Rishi was grazing cattle, one of the cows fell off a cliff and died. The Rishi prayed to Shiva for help. Shiva told him to pray to goddess Ganga. The same night, the goddess appeared in his dream and the next day the Ganga appeared in Godavari, when the Jupiter was aligned with the Sun. The rishi then built the Siddheshwar Temple beside the pond at Godavari Kunda. The aligning of Jupiter and Sun happens every 12 years, hence the festival is also celebrated every 12 years.<ref name='nt01'/><ref name="rep01"/><br />
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==Similar mela==<br />
A festival is celebrated in [[Kailali district]] of Nepal with a similar name. It is called ''Godavari Amrit Mahasnan Dibya Sahasrha Kumbha Darshan Mela'' and is celebrated in Maghe Sankranti. More than 500,000 people visit the festival from surround district in Nepal and pilgrims from India. In 2016, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari inaugurated the event.<ref>{{Cite web| last = Mausam| title = Lakhs of devotees throng Kumbha Mela in Godavari| work = The Himalayan Times| accessdate = 2023-07-17| date = 2016-01-16| url = https://thehimalayantimes.com/nepal/lakhs-of-devotees-throng-kumbha-mela-in-godavari}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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[[Category:Festivals in Nepal]]<br />
[[Category:Hindu festivals in Nepal]]</div>GeniaKinslow32