Madani Festival 2082 Concludes in Rautahat with Massive Devotee Turnout

Rautahat. The Madani Festival 2082, organized at Patauradham in Maulapur Municipality, Rautahat, has concluded. Organizers stated that this year's festival was joyous due to the significant participation of local residents and devotees who arrived from both within the country and abroad.

This time, the participation of national and international artists was omitted as per the request of the upcoming general elections and the District Security Coordination Committee. Maulapur Mayor Rina Kumari Sah stated that the presence of thousands of devotees, even without artists, sent a message that Patauradham has already been established as an ancient site of Mahadev.

The Madani Great Yagya was organized at the archaeological Mahadev Temple in Patauradham on the occasion of Mahashivaratri, as it is every year. The three-day Great Yagya, conducted under the aegis of Maulapur Municipality, was celebrated with various religious and cultural programs as the wedding celebration of Shiva-Parvati.

On the first day of the Great Yagya, a procession (Barat Yatra) of Shiva-Parvati was taken out. The procession of Lord Shiva, taken out from Patauradham every year, is considered unique in Nepal. Thousands of devotees from Nepal and India, including Prabhu Sah and Mayor Rina Sah, participated in the Barat Yatra.

Symbolic tableaux of Brahma, Vishnu, and various deities were presented along with the tableau of Lord Shiva riding a Basaha (Nandi). The Patauradham area was filled with devotion throughout the day with the participation of Bolbam Kanwariyas, Shiva Mandalis, and local residents. The procession was made more attractive by elephants, horses, and traditional musical instruments.

According to Mayor Sah, the Great Yagya is being organized with the goal of getting the Mahadev Temple at Patauradham listed in the World Heritage List. It is claimed that this type of Shiva Barat Yatra might be rare not only in Nepal but also globally.

Excavation began in the historically and archaeologically significant Patauradham area after an ancient idol of Shiva was discovered. Following the discovery of ancient temple structures and materials from the Gupta period during the excavation, there has been a growing demand to list this area in the World Heritage List.

The organizers expressed gratitude to the local residents, people's representatives, employees, security personnel, ascetics, and devotees who helped make the festival successful. According to security agencies, necessary security arrangements were made throughout the duration of the fair. Maulapur Municipality stated that more than two lakh devotees visited and observed the festival.