Pokhara, 15 June — The monumental Shatakundiya Gayatri Koti Hom Virat Gyan Mahayagya, organized by Manav Sewa Foundation, concluded on Saturday in Pokhara with an astounding participation of over 4.5 million devotees over the course of 61 days. The religious event, one of the largest of its kind in recent memory, saw both spiritual fervor and remarkable communal engagement.
According to the foundation, approximately NPR 90 million was raised during the event. Sankalpakarta Balayogeshwar Shri Vijay Krishnamurtiji Maharaj stated that full financial details will be publicly disclosed within the Nepali month of Asar through a formal press conference and public hearing. He also committed a portion of the collected funds to Manav Sewa Foundation, women’s welfare through “Chhoriko Ghar,” and other humanitarian causes.
During the closing ceremony, Youth Co-Coordinator Yuvak Lamichhane advocated for the declaration of Nepal as a Hindu nation within the framework of a republic. He also announced a contribution of NPR 500,000 for the establishment of a maternal orphanage and an additional NPR 125,000 towards the Koti Hom.
Among the many spiritual and social activities, the event recorded 906 units of blood collected in a donation campaign. It also hosted a national-level hymn competition and oratory contest featuring substantial prize offerings. On the day of the grand fire ritual, four hundred Brahmins performed Havan totaling NPR 150 million in symbolic offerings.
Various sacred rites were performed, including 525 Bratabandhas, 120 Tula Daan rituals, 135 Chaurasi Poojas, and several other significant Vedic ceremonies. The event featured 21 crore oil lamps lit during the final Havan, a grand eight-minute, 25-second conch shell sound (Shankh Ghosh) by Krishna Raj Adhikari, and the offering of 1,008 coconuts at the Tal Barahi Temple.
The fire ritual began on 1 May (Baisakh 19) with Agni Manthan at 6:45 a.m., Agni Sthapana at 7:15 a.m., Samidha offering at 7:19 a.m., and Ahuti at 8:05 a.m. Each day, Brahmins chanted Gayatri Mantras in accordance with Vedic procedures. The event also included 108 sessions of Bhagwat Mahapuran, four Vedic readings, Saptachandi, Rudri, and mantra recitations.
Prominent religious figures, including Bhagwat Manjari Radhika Dasi, international storyteller Devi Pratibha, Anuradha Pandey, Vyasacharya Prashant Krishna Parankush, and youth philosopher Chaitanyakrishna Maharaj, delivered spiritual discourses throughout the event. Held at Sadashivji Siddheshwar Harihar Temple premises in Pokhara-17, the Koti Hom was initially scheduled to end on 8 June (Jestha 26) but was extended to 13 June (Jestha 31) due to overwhelming public participation.
The ceremony concluded with an emotional farewell to Bhagwat Manjari Radhika Dasi, who had been reciting the Bhagwat Katha from Jestha 17 until the end. Her departure left the audience deeply moved, marking a heartfelt closure to an event of spiritual, cultural, and social magnitude.
