Chamoli
Today we will talk about the mysterious Latu Devta Temple of Dev Bhoomi Uttarakhand where devotees are prohibited from entering the temple. Even the temple priest is not allowed to see the Lord. To worship God, the priest has to enter the temple with a bandage on his eyes, mouth and nose and has to open the bandage only after coming out. So let’s know where this temple is and what is the reason behind the unique type of worship here
Worship is done with blindfold in the temple Latu Devta Mandir
Latu Devta Mandir
There is a unique temple of Latu Devta in Dewal block of Chamoli district of Uttarakhand, this temple was built about 1000 years ago. And the doors of this temple open only once in a year. It is believed that Latu Devta is present here in the form of Nagraj. According to the local people, Latu deity is the religious brother of Nanda Devi of Uttarakhand, the form of Goddess Parvati.
It is believed that Nagraj lives with his gem in the temple, which is not possible for common people to see. Even on seeing it, he can become blind and his life can also be lost in this. Even the priests don’t get scared seeing the form of Nagraj, so they open the door by blindfolding and offer prayers. Not only this, they also tie a bandage on their mouth so that the smell of their mouth does not reach the deity and the poisonous smell of cobra does not reach the nose of the priest.
According to belief, devotees have to worship at a distance of 75 feet from the temple. Van village is the twelfth stop of Nanda Devi’s Raj Jat Yatra, Asia’s longest pilgrimage on foot, held every 12 years in Devbhoomi. Latu Devta greets Nanda Devi from Van village to Hemkund. Every year during Navratri, a big fair is held here. Lakhs of devotees come here to show their faith and seek the blessings of the deity.