The doors of the ancient Phool Narayan Temple in Uttarakhand’s Chamoli district were opened for devotees on Thursday, July 16th, on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Sankranti and Harela festival, accompanied by Vedic chanting, religious rituals, and traditional rites. Prior to the opening, the temple was lavishly decorated with colorful flowers. As soon as the doors opened, the entire temple complex reverberated with chants of “Jai Narayan,” as a large number of devotees visited Lord Phool Narayan and prayed for happiness and prosperity.
Phool Nanarayan Temple, located in Joshimath, Chamoli district, at an altitude of approximately 10,000 feet, is a famous and ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Vishnu. Here, Lord Vishnu is enshrined in his four-armed form with Goddess Lakshmi. Furthermore, the goddesses Kshetrapal Ghantakarna and Nanda-Sunanda are also worshipped within the temple complex.
According to the temple’s unique tradition, only a female priest has the exclusive right to adorn the deity, which was performed with devotion and ritual this year as well. According to tradition, female priest Anandi Devi adorned the idol of the deity with beautiful flowers.
The doors of the Phulnanarayan Temple are opened every year on Shravan Sankranti and closed for the winter season on the ninth day, the day after Nanda Ashtami.
The temple’s most unique tradition is that, under the village turn system, a family is assigned the responsibility of worshipping the temple each year, which includes Bharki, Bhenta, Pilkhi, Gwana, and Arosi villages. This year, Ashish Panwar served as the priest of Lord Narayana, and Anandi Devi served as the female priest.