A temple where childless couples have children, children who do not speak for a long time begin to speak. Dupcheshwar Mahadev Temple is a religious tourist site located in Rautbesi VDC of Nuwakot district. Devotees visit this place especially Dupcheshwar Mahadev to get married and ask for children. The attraction of devotees carrying such faith to the temple of Dupcheshwor Mahadev in Rautvenshi VDC, east of the district headquarters Bidur, has been highlighting the cultural and religious significance in recent times. Every year in the month of Pus, on the occasion of Dhanyapurnima, a special fair is held throughout the year, Shivaratri, Saun Mahina and every Monday at Dupcheshwor temple.
It is believed that mainly childless couples come here to ask for children and after devotion to Mahadev, they get children by divine power. The fair, which lasts for one year from Dhanyapurnima, is a little unique and different in the context of Nepal. Hindus and Buddhists have been calling this temple as the second Pashupatinath, with the religious belief that ‘whatever is asked will be fulfilled’.
The Dupcheshwor Conservation Committee has said that the fair is crowded as it fulfills the wishes of childless couples. Devotees from far and wide take vows in the belief that visiting Dupcheshwar will reach their heart’s desire, give birth to a son, and speak to children who have not spoken for a long time.
The experience of many devotees who have children without children, pray for the marriage of unmarried people and have their wishes fulfilled can also be heard here. The Dupcheshwar temple is located on a rocky hill more than 700 meters high. Devotees have been taking turns to climb the Tadi river at the foot of the temple.
Origin of Dupcheshwor Mahadev: According to the mythology, a local Tamang’s milking cow was lost in a herdsman’s house four hundred years ago. On the other hand, it is said that Dupcheshwor was visited by Mahadev Gosaikunda, who was poisoned by the Kalkut poison that came out after churning the sea.
Therefore, there is another legend that Dudheshwar Mahadev originated in the same place and was later renamed as Dupcheshwar. Thousands of couples from different parts of the country including Kathmandu, Dhading, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk, Makwanpur, Gorkha and Chitwan come here every year to beg for children from Dupcheshwor Mahadev.
The traditional culture of the Tamang and Sherpa ethnic groups is on display at this fair, which has great potential as a destination for religious tourism. According to the locals, the number of devotees calling Dupcheshwor as Santaneshwar Mahadev is increasing day by day. As Dupcheshwor is considered as the center of faith of all religions, there is a demand from the locals for special initiative in the development of this region.
The Dupcheshwor Fair Conservation and Management Committee has stated that the number of visitors is very low at other times than the fair as there is no publicity of tourist importance from the government level. The intellectuals believe that the promotion of religious and historical heritage like Dupcheshwor Mahadev and the promotion of internal and external tourists will be an important contribution not only to Nuwakot but also to the national economic prosperity.
