The historic fair of Dev Kamrunag, the revered deity of Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district, is upon us again — and this year the administration says it has locked down its arrangements well in advance to manage the rush of pilgrims. The Gohar administration reports that every preparation for a smooth and peaceful event is complete. The headline change for visitors: vehicle movement to and from the temple has now been fixed, with three options for the journey up but just a single route for the way back.
Special Road Map in Force from June 14 to 16
DSP Headquarter Dinesh Kumar laid out the traffic and security measures that will apply during the fair. He explained that a special traffic road map has been drawn up for the three days — June 14, 15 and 16 — keeping the convenience of devotees in mind. Under the plan, vehicles heading toward the Dev Kamrunag temple will be permitted to use three main routes.
All three begin at Chailchowk — one via Saroa, another via Phangyar and the third via Shala — so pilgrims can pick whichever suits them. The return, however, leaves no choice: after the darshan, every vehicle must travel back on the Jhaur via Jaachh route only. Funnelling all returning traffic onto this single route is meant to keep incoming and outgoing vehicles from colliding on the same roads and to prevent jams.
Strict Action for Rule-Breakers
The administration has made it clear that anyone flouting the traffic rules will face firm action from the Gohar police. To keep order through the fair, around 70 police and home guard personnel will be deployed. Alongside ensuring the safety of pilgrims, they will be responsible for keeping the flow of traffic running smoothly.
Devotees Already Pouring In Since June 13
The stream of devotees seeking darshan of Dev Kamrunag has been building since June 13 itself. Every year, lakhs of worshippers bow their heads at the deity's court to receive his blessings. The draw is not confined to Himachal Pradesh — thousands of pilgrims and tourists arrive from various states across North India to add to the splendour of this historic fair, a confluence of faith, culture and tradition that holds a special place among Himachal Pradesh's major religious gatherings.
The biggest crowd pressure this year is expected on Monday, June 15, the occasion of Saje. On this day a large number of devotees reach the temple for darshan and worship, and a huge surge of people is anticipated — which is precisely why the administration has put extensive security and traffic arrangements in place.
SDM's Appeal to Pilgrims
SDM Gohar Devi Singh has urged devotees to cooperate in making the fair a success and keeping it peaceful. He asked them to pay special attention to cleanliness and sanitation and to follow the prescribed traffic rules. He also flagged an important caution: in high-altitude areas the weather can turn at any moment and rain remains a possibility. With that in mind, he appealed to pilgrims to reach the fair fully prepared and to help uphold the dignity and grandeur of this religious event.
