The famous Danda Devrana Fair (Danda ki Jatra) was held on July 1st in Devrana village in the Rawani Valley of Uttarkashi district, Uttarakhand. Thousands of devotees gathered at the fair. Devotees from 65 villages in the Rawani, Jaunpur, and Jaunsar regions travelled from far and wide to visit Rudreshwar Maharaj (a local form of Shiva) at the temple. Surrounded by dense pine forests, this sacred site, situated at an altitude of approximately 2,500 meters, offers a unique blend of faith and folk culture. Devotees in traditional attire dance to the beats of dol and damaus to welcome the deity’s palanquin. After seeing Rudreshwar Maharaj, who is bathed with milk by priests, devotees make wishes and seek blessings for happiness and prosperity.
According to local folklore, in ancient times, the power of Rudreshwar Mahadev came with the porters of Rawani while they were returning from Chakrata carrying goods. This divine power vanished upon reaching home. Later, a farmer in Bajladi village found an idol of Rudreshwar Mahadev while plowing his fields, and it was installed in Devrana village. Another legend suggests that Rudreshwar Maharaj was once a king who came from Kashmir to the Rawani region and settled there.
This ancient temple in Devrana has been a center of faith for centuries, where the Danda Devrana Fair (Danda ki Jatra) is held annually in the month of Ashadha. This fair symbolizes the centuries-old tradition of the Rawani Valley. The fair features cultural programs and collective worship, strengthening the region’s unity and faith. This fair holds not only religious significance but also serves as a medium for preserving Garhwal’s folk culture