Preparations Underway for Annual Vikram Baba Puja in Chitwan

Chitwan. Preparations have begun in Chitwan for the annual Vikram Baba Puja, which takes place during the Chaitra Dashain period. This year, the puja is scheduled to be observed from Chaitra 5 to Chaitra 19. The Vikram Baba worship site is located in Kasara, within the Chitwan National Park.

The darshan and worship of Vikram Baba take place about two kilometers inside the national park from the Rapti Bridge. This puja is especially prevalent among the Tharu community. Although the Tharu community has been observing the Vikram Baba puja since ancient times, in recent times, people from all communities participate. It is believed that worshipping Vikram Baba fulfills desires such as obtaining progeny and achieving happiness.

The fair is being managed with Bharatpur Metropolitan City-23 serving as the custodian. According to Ward Chairman Deepak Dawadi, work has been done by forming committees for puja management, sanitation, exhibition hall management, and health. He stated, "Currently, work is underway for cleaning the temple where the puja is performed, road maintenance, and general sanitation."

Work for the puja management has begun under the coordination of Lal Bahadur Dawadi, Chairman of the Kerunga Intermediate Consumer Committee. The Patiahani Intermediate Consumer Committee members are arranged to be part of this. Furthermore, representatives from the National Park, the Nepali Army, and the Ghailaghari Community Forest User Group will also be included, he informed.

He mentioned that 250 exhibition stalls will be constructed and distributed in the community forest area. Arrangements will be made for sanitation, drinking water, help desks, fire engines, ambulances, and water tanks. Looking at previous years, more than six lakh devotees are expected to visit the fair this year as well. Entry into the national park for the puja will be open from 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM, while the fair outside the park will operate from 5:00 AM to 8:00 PM.

The security for the fair and the puja will be coordinated among the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, and Municipal Police. The Municipal Police will manage the queue control on the bridge to manage the crowd of devotees.