Doli Offerings Draw Thousands to Tanahun's Thanimai Temple

Tanasun. On the fourth Tuesday of Falgun today, 27 dolis (palanquins) from various districts were brought to the Thanimai Temple in Bhanu-7, Tanahun. The temple management committee stated that a total of 27 dolis arrived from Tanahun, Lamjung, Gorkha, Chitwan, and Kathmandu.

Along with the dolis, approximately three thousand devotees visited the temple to pay homage to the deity. Committee Chairman Jeevan Thapa Magar informed that the large participation of devotees created a religious atmosphere in the temple area since early morning.

On Monday night, 85 devotees stayed awake all night in the temple premises, lighting lamps. Every year, on Tuesdays in the months of Ashoj, Kartik, Mangsir, Magh, Falgun, and Chaitra, devotees from different parts of the country offer flower dolis at the Thanimai Temple.

On Tuesdays during these months, there is a rush of ordinary people offering flower dolis at the temple. Thapa mentioned that there is a religious belief that offering a flower doli at the temple fulfills one's wishes.

Devotees circumambulate the Thanimai Temple three times with flower dolis and Pancha Baja (traditional five-instrument band), singing and dancing. After the circumambulation, the toran (decorative arch) carried with the doli is circled three times around the dewalas (shrines) in the temple premises located on the mound above. Then, they enter the temple and perform puja, stating that their vows have been fulfilled. The Basantapur area echoes with the cheers of 'Jai Jai' for Thanimai, accompanied by musical instruments and flags.

There is a tradition of preparing the flower doli by performing Satyanarayan puja on Monday and then offering it at the Thanimai Temple. Puja is performed at the temple every day except during the month of Shrawan, Ekadashi, and Aunsi (new moon days).

From here, situated at an altitude of 1,200 meters above sea level, views of the Gorkha's Laxmi Bazaar, Ligligkot, Palungtar, Rainaskot, and other Himalayan ranges can be seen. The temple, which was damaged in the earthquake of Baisakh 12, 2072 BS, has been reconstructed. The reconstruction cost Rs 2 million, funded by Rs 1.4 million received from the Ministry of Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation and Rs 600,000 collected from the temple's offerings.

Locals say that the worship at this temple began in Bikram Sambat 1825. According to local residents, there is a legend that worship started at that location around the time when a mother and daughter from Bhote took shelter under a tree during a storm in BS 1825 and then disappeared (inter-dimensional travel).