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 Introduction

Nanda Devi is the second highest Mountain of India with the elevation of 7816 mitre. It is located in Chamoli district of Uttarakhand India. This mountain is named after Nanda Devi: one of the most important diety in Kumaon and Garhwal region. She is known as the avatar of Goddess Parvati. 

Story of Nanda Devi

Story about who is Nanda Devi differ in many parts of uttarakhand. 
In Garhwal region she is considered to be an avatar of Maa Parvati and wife of Shiva.
In Kumaun region, some say she was the family Goddess of Chand kings while some other say that Nanda and Sunanda were daughter of a Chand king who were killed by a bull.

Nanda devi temple

Nanda Devi is one of the most important Hindu gods in Uttarakhand. Her shrine, are located all over the state. Some of her famous shirne are situated in the Almora, Nainital and Munsiyari which draws hundreds of thousands of devotees every year.

The goddess has been worshipped since ancient times and it was believed that she protected her devotees from all sorts of dangers including earthquakes, floods and even attacks by wild animals such as wolves or tigers (gaur).

In order to appease this power, people would pray at her shrine before starting any risky activity like climbing mountains or crossing rivers during monsoon season.

Nanda devi fair Almora

As per legends, Nanda Devi was the family Goddess of the Chand Kings, rulers of the Kumaon region. In the 17th century, King Dyot Chand built the temple of Nanda Devi in Almora. Thus, from then onwards, the Nanda Devi Fair is organized every year to worship the Goddess of Kumaon, Nanda Devi and it symbolizes the economic and cultural prosperity of the region. People participate in the procession which carries the dola (palanquin) of Nanda Devi and her sister, Sunanda.


Nanda devi Raj Jat

The Nanda Devi Raj Jat is a famous pilgrimage held in the honour of Goddess Nanda Devi, the patron deity of Garhwal Mandala. It is said that once Nanda devi(wife of Shiva) visited her parental home but couldn't get back Kailash for over twelve years. And when she left this Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra was organised to send her back to her sasural (kailash). After that it is organised once in every twelve years in her honour in which devotees from all over the world take part.

This yatra start from Nauti village of Chamoli district and ends in Roopkund. It involves a total 280 kilometres of trekking. After reaching Roopkund a four horned ram is send to Kailash mountain.

Conclusion

There may be different stories about Nanda devi but the common thing is she is worshipped as a Goddess.