Hundreds of people paid obeisance at Dev Junga Temple in Devthi on the occasion of Diwali

Like every year, a Jagran was organized this year as well, celebrating the Diwali festival, at the Devthi temple of the deity Junga. Hundreds of people sought the blessings of the deity Junga (child), and also performed other religious tasks. The deity’s minister, Daulat Ram Mehta, and the deity’s guru, Harinand Sharma, explained that after the fulfillment of the vows at the deity’s Jagran on the night of Diwali, religious and purifying rituals are performed.
Harinand Sharma explained that Dev Junga (Baal) is one of the 22 Tikas. Dev Junga protects his people from natural disasters or epidemics. He explained that Dev Junga was brought from Nadaun by his ancestors. In this temple, only rice grains are offered as blessings.
Harinand Sharma explained that Devthi houses a nearly two-century-old temple dedicated to the deity Junga. The Yama Dhol (drum) still exists in this temple. A man from the Jhadan family of Trahai retrieved a plate and drum from a festival of Yamadoots (enactments of Yama) at the cremation ground. When the Yamadoots (enactments of Yama) chased him, he sought refuge with the deity, where the deity and the Yamadoots protected him and kept the drum in their temple, which has remained safe there for two centuries. Furthermore, the Yamadoots’ plate was buried beneath the Kali Mata temple in Koti.
He told that though there are four big festivals in this temple during the year, Bishu ki Sajji in Baishakh month, Hariyali Sajji in Shravan month, Diwali and Makar Sankranti, darshan in the temple has special importance, whereas puja is also performed on Sankranti of every month and people come to offer their wishes. He told that once a year during Diwali festival, every family of his subjects has to attend this temple. Sleeping on a wooden bed on the night of Dev Jagran is considered prohibited and neither do women wash their hair. That is, many types of Dev restrictions have to be followed.