Over 250 deities gather in Kullu’s Naggar, blame disrespect of religious sites for rising natural calamities
Munish Sood
MANDI:
In the mist-laden hills of Himachal Pradesh’s ancient capital Naggar, where gods are believed to walk among men, the world’s largest assembly of deities — the ‘Dev Sansad’ — gathered on Friday (October 31, 2025), sending out a grave warning to humanity.
More than 250 local deities, some even from Lahaul and Mandi’s Snor Valley, converged at Jagti Patt to deliver a message that resonates far beyond the valley — the earth is angry and nature is retaliating.
The divine congregation, steeped in centuries of Himalayan tradition, reflected a growing tension between development and devotion in the Kullu-Manali region, a land known as the Valley of Gods but increasingly ravaged by landslides, flash floods and cloudbursts in recent years.
Nature responding to human arrogance
The deities, through their gur (oracles) and kardars (caretakers), declared that man’s interference with sacred landscapes has disturbed the cosmic balance. From tunnels carved beneath rivers to ropeways built across holy sites like Bijli Mahadev, the gods, they said, have been “continuously provoked”.
“Religious places must remain sacred, not turned into tourist attractions,” proclaimed Lord Raghunath’s Kardar Danvendra Singh during the assembly. “The gods are deeply angered by the commercialisation of temples, the pollution of holy rivers and the desecration of Dhalpur Ground, the very heart of Kullu’s divine heritage.”
Their message, delivered with unmistakable urgency, linked the frequent natural calamities — the 2023 Manali floods, the massive landslides in Sainj and Kullu, and the river’s changing course — to divine displeasure.
Gods oppose ropeways, mindless construction
This year’s Dev Sansad also reflected on ongoing disputes over the Bijli Mahadev ropeway project, which has drawn sharp opposition from the Dev Sanskrati (divine tradition) keepers. For them, the construction near sacred peaks and forests is not merely an environmental concern but a spiritual transgression.
“When trees are cut and mountains are drilled in the abode of gods, nature will retaliate. These are not just mountains; they are living deities,” warned one of the priests.
The assembly urged the government and locals alike to halt commercial exploitation of religious and natural spaces, emphasising that true prosperity can never come by defying divine law.
2 Mahayagyas to appease the divine
In response to the rising anger of the gods, the assembly resolved to organise two grand ‘Mahayagyas’ — one at Jagti Patt in Naggar and another at Dhalpur Ground in Kullu — aimed at purifying the atmosphere and restoring spiritual equilibrium.
Maheshwar Singh, the Chhadi Bardar of Lord Raghunath, said, “The gods have instructed that unless repentance begins, disasters will multiply. Even the sight of cows wandering hungry on the roads has added to the sins burdening the earth.”
He added that while a ‘Kahika Yagya’ was also suggested, it will not be held at Dhalpur due to repeated violations of the site’s sanctity.
Follow Dev Desh or face ‘pralay’, warn deities
From Snor Valley’s Mata Tunga to Kui Kanda Nag of Kullu, all deities spoke in unison — humans must reconnect with faith, respect natural boundaries and follow ‘Dev Desh’ (divine law).
Priest Inder Singh Thakur remarked, “The gods’ word is never false. When they warn of destruction, it is not myth but prophecy.”
Their warning came with chilling reminders: the collapse of Manali’s bridges, the flash floods of 2023 and the recent cracks appearing in old villages — all seen as signs that the valley’s patience is running out.
