Nanda Devi Raj Jat

Overview

Nanda Devi Raj Jat — "Raj" meaning royal and "Jat" meaning journey — is the grandest and most emotionally charged religious event in Uttarakhand. It is the farewell procession of Goddess Nanda Devi, the patron deity of the state and one of the most revered figures in Garhwali and Kumaoni folk tradition. Once every twelve years, hundreds of thousands of people walk the same ancient route through river valleys, alpine meadows and glacial passes to escort the goddess to her divine abode in the high Himalayas.

The entire procession covers approximately 280 km on foot, passing through more than 280 villages spread across Chamoli, Rudraprayag, and Bageshwar districts. The journey starts at Nauti village near Karnaprayag — the spiritual seat of the Raj Jat — and ends at Homkund, a glacial lake at roughly 4,800 metres in the shadow of Nanda Ghunti (6,309m). The procession takes 19 to 21 days to complete, depending on the pace of the palanquin (doli) and the ceremonial halts at sacred sites along the way.

What makes the Nanda Devi Raj Jat unlike any other pilgrimage in India is the sacred animal that leads it. A naturally-born four-horned ram — called the kholusiya or chhurumali — is identified by village priests as the mount of the goddess. This rare white ram with four horns walks at the very head of the procession. At Homkund, in the closing ceremony, the ram is ceremonially decorated and released into the glacial wilderness. It does not return. This final act, witnessed by thousands of shivering pilgrims at 4,800 metres, is the spiritual climax of the entire twelve-year cycle.

The next Raj Jat is expected around 2026–2028. The exact date is announced only after a four-horned ram is found — which can take several months of searching — and after the priests of Nauti give their formal proclamation.

Travel Planning

Planning for the Nanda Devi Raj Jat requires considerably more preparation than a standard Himalayan pilgrimage, because it is a multi-week trek through terrain that reaches 4,800 metres. The route passes through some of the most remote villages in Garhwal, where facilities are rudimentary even during the yatra itself. Here is what every prospective pilgrim needs to plan well in advance.

Key Stages of the Journey

How to Reach the Starting Point

Registration and Permits

For the high-altitude section above Wan village (beyond 2,440m), pilgrims must carry a permit issued by the Chamoli District Magistrate's office or from GMVN registration counters set up in Karnaprayag and Gopeshwar during the yatra period. The trek to Bedni Bugyal, Patar Nachauni and Homkund falls within protected/restricted zones and requires documented registration. Medical fitness certification may be required for those above 60 years of age for the high-altitude stages.

Accommodation on the Route

During the Raj Jat itself, the Uttarakhand government and district administration set up temporary shelters, community kitchens (langars) and first-aid camps at all major halts. Between yatras, regular pilgrims trekking the Bedni Bugyal route use GMVN rest houses at Wan and basic forest huts. In ordinary years (outside the Raj Jat), accommodation at the high camps (Patar Nachauni and above) means either GMVN pre-booked huts or tents. During the yatra, the entire system expands significantly.

History & Culture

The Nanda Devi Raj Jat has been celebrated for at least the past 500 years in recorded form, though local oral tradition extends the practice back considerably further. The yatra is rooted in the belief that Goddess Nanda — sister of Lord Vishnu in Garhwali folk theology — was married into a distant mountain household (representing the Himalayan peaks to the north) and periodically returns to her paternal home before being escorted back. The Raj Jat is her grand "bidaai" — the tearful farewell ceremony that a daughter receives when she leaves for her husband's home.

The procession is documented from the early 20th century: a 1905 Raj Jat, then 1914, 1926, 1938, 1951, 1963, 1974, 1987, 2000 and most recently 2014 — making the 2014 event the 14th recorded Raj Jat. The 15th will be the next. The twelve-year cycle is not rigidly calendar-based; it is triggered by the natural appearance of a four-horned ram and the consensus of Nauti's priests.

The cultural significance extends far beyond religion. The Raj Jat unites the two major highland communities of Uttarakhand — Garhwali and Kumaoni — who may otherwise have separate traditions and dialects. The route passes through both regions, with Kumaoni folk traditions joining the procession at certain points. Instruments played throughout the procession — the dhol-damau, the ransingha (curved mountain horn), the turhi (straight brass horn) — create a soundscape that hundreds of thousands of pilgrims describe as transformative.

The weeping of women at Nauti and the villages along the route during the procession has been documented by anthropologists and writers — it represents both the joy of the goddess's presence and the grief of her departure. The emotion is genuine and visible at every village halt where the goddess's palanquin rests overnight.

Tips

• Start fitness preparation 3 months early: The high-altitude section from Wan to Homkund gains 2,300m over four days. Even fit walkers find this demanding. Build cardiovascular endurance and test your legs on weekend hills.
• Acclimatise at Wan (2,440m) for at least two nights before proceeding to Bedni Bugyal and above. Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS) is a real risk at 3,500m+ for those who ascend too quickly.
• Carry a sleeping bag rated to -10°C minimum for nights at Patar Nachauni and above. Even in the yatra season (typically August–September), night temperatures at 3,600m+ drop below freezing.
• Pack light — porters are available at Wan for hire (₹700–₹1,200/day) but keeping your pack under 8 kg for the high sections is strongly advised.
• Water and food — springs are available at all stages but carry purification tablets. During the Raj Jat, community kitchens serve simple prasad-style meals (rice, dal, vegetable); bring energy bars and dry fruit for the upper camps where the crowds are densest.
• Do not rush the Homkund section — the final day from Shila Samundra to Homkund (4,800m) is glacial terrain with loose scree and ice patches. Follow the pace of the procession and do not attempt to overtake the doli.

FAQs

When is the next Nanda Devi Raj Jat?

The last Raj Jat was held in 2014. Based on the twelve-year cycle, the next one is expected around 2026 or 2028. The exact date is declared only after a four-horned ram (kholusiya) is naturally identified in the Nauti region and the priests of Nauti give the formal announcement. Watch for news from the Chamoli district administration and from the Nanda Devi Raj Jat Trust, Nauti.

How many days does the Nanda Devi Raj Jat take?

The full procession from Nauti to Homkund takes 19 to 21 days, with ceremonial halts of one or two nights at each major village. Most pilgrims who cannot walk the entire route join at Wan village (the last motor-accessible point) and trek the final four stages to Homkund — this takes 3–4 days one way. The return from Homkund to Wan is typically 2 days.

Can anyone join the Nanda Devi Raj Jat or is it only for Garhwalis?

Anyone can participate — pilgrims from all parts of India and from the Garhwali/Kumaoni diaspora abroad have joined in previous years. The procession is open. For the high-altitude sections, you need a permit from the district administration and should be medically fit. There is no caste, community or religious restriction on who may walk; the goddess is considered the deity of all of Uttarakhand.