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Dinesh Jaspa, Lahaul: Neelkanth Lake, located at an altitude of about 13,124 feet in the Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh, remained covered with a thick sheet of snow for eight months. It is believed that during this period Lord Shiva remains engrossed in his meditation. Now the gates of the lake have opened for the devotees. A large number of devotees are reaching here and taking bath in the lake.

As soon as the lake opens, devotees are reaching there, breaking the frozen ice with iron rods and getting into the water and taking bath. The body of the devotees is stiffening with cold but even in sub-zero temperatures the devotees are not missing out on taking a dip. ‘Om Namah Shivay’ is being chanted continuously around the lake. The devotees coming are chanting Om Namah Shivay and Har Har Mahadev.

How do devotees reach the temple?

Devotees have to travel 300 meters barefoot before reaching the lake. His feet became cold due to snow and severe cold but neither the cheering stopped nor the devotees stopped moving forward. The devotees present there told that to reach God one has to melt oneself.

How did Neelkanth reach?

Neelkanth Lake can be reached by car till Naingar, after that one has to travel on foot. The priest explains that due to religious beliefs women do not go towards this lake.

When will the gate of the lake be closed?

The gate of the lake will be closed when snowfall starts again in October. Devotees do not just take darshan in this journey, but also dedicate themselves to Bholenath after eight months of waiting, icy cold and hard work.

Why are there restrictions on women going?

There are religious beliefs and mythological stories behind the ban on women going to the sacred Neelkanth Mahadev temple and lake located in the Lahaul Valley of Himachal Pradesh. According to folk beliefs, the color of the water of this blue lake is believed to be to Lord Shiva drinking poison and this place is considered very sacred and supernatural.

Local traditions say that women are kept away from this inaccessible and sacred place due to strict traditional rules of purity to menstruation. There is also a mythological belief that the local goddess here may get angry with the arrival of women, due to which there is a fear of evil or natural disaster in the valley. This is the reason why even today women are prohibited from going there, following this centuries-old religious and cultural tradition.