Shimla: Faith in local deities runs supreme in Himachal Pradesh — often called Devbhumi — where a 3.2 km Bijli Mahadev ropeway project in Kullu district is facing opposition for months. Citing “deity’s orders”, local residents have demanded the proposed project be scrapped given the “inauspicious” oracles.
Sitting atop Kharal hill opposite Kullu town, Bijli Mahadev is a religious place located around 25 km from the district headquarters. Currently, devotees and visitors trek for 3 km to reach the Shiva temple there from Chansari village after travelling by buses and jeeps from Kullu bus stand.
In April 2022, the then BJP government inked an MoU with the National Highways Logistics Management Limited (NHLML) for construction of seven ropeway projects, including the one at Bijli Mahadev, under Parvatmala scheme. Subsequently, the Centre earmarked Rs 200 crore for the ropeway connecting Pirdi near Kullu to the hilltop.
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in his February budget speech said that the ropeway would be constructed at a cost of Rs 272 crore. But there has been opposition from the villagers from the outset, with Kullu seeing a protest demonstration in August last year. Residents of Kharahal and Kashavar Faati say that local deities — Bijli Mahadev, Hidimba Devi and Jamdagni Rishi — are against the ropeway.
This is not the first such case as a few projects, including the proposed Ski village in Kullu district, were scrapped after ‘opposition’ from deities in the past.
Worshipped as a manifestation of Goddess Durga, Devi Hidimba, according to folklore, is the sister of demon king Hidimb and was married to the second Pandava, Bhim. Jamdagni Rishi, known as Jamlu Devta in Kullu’s Malana village, is considered to be a manifestation of Lord Vishnu. As for Bijli Mahadev, devotees believe the 60-foot staff at the shrine is blessed through lightning (hence, the name ‘Bijli’).
Such deep rooted is deity traditions in Kullu, also known as ‘Valley of Gods’, that people seek blessings from deities before starting any major work, be it constructing a house or starting a business.
“Mahadev has opposed this project. A religious meet was held in Bhrain village in August 2023, where Bijli Mahadev, through his ‘Gur’ (oracle) opposed this project. The other deities, Devi Hadimba and Jamdagni Rishi, have also opposed it,” Virender Singh Jamwal, the Kardar (who takes care of deity’s management) of Bijli Mahadev, told ThePrint.
Local residents told ThePrint that the devastation caused by last year’s floods in Kullu Valley have been an eye opener for them.
“Deities keep warning people about one thing or other through oracles. After the devastation caused by the floods last year, people were worried and went to deities. Through their oracles, deities warned of degradation of values and destruction of nature and old customs,” Shailesh Thakur, a resident of Kharahal Valley, told ThePrint.
A civil society — Bijli Mahadev Ropeway Sangharsh Samiti Kharahal and Kashavari Faati — has been formed to convince the state as well as the Centre not to go ahead with this project, he added.
Sangharsh Samiti’s president Sarchand Thakur wondered why government officials were adamant about the ropeway.
“Bijli Mahadev and other deities have opposed this project,” Thakur told ThePrint. “We have suggested that the government should widen the road to Bijli Mahadev instead of installing a ropeway. Roads will generate employment as there are several villages along the route.”
Locals staged a protest rally on 19 February in Kullu and submitted a memorandum to the Kullu deputy commissioner. Such protests were held in December too but the government has not consulted the people so far, Thakur said.
Kullu MLA and chief parliamentary secretary Sundar Thakur though is in favour of the ropeway. “The ropeway will transform the local economy and put the place on the world map of tourism. This project is in the interest of local people,” Thakur told ThePrint.
Sanju Pandit, the pradhan of Jiya panchayat of Kashavari valley, said the wishes of the people should be taken into consideration. “Whatever be done, it should be done in the larger public interest. Public sentiments should always be respected.”
He added that digging for the ropeways could lead to the sinking of the hills and that no one would want it.
Other projects that faced such roadblocks
For more than a decade, the Himalayan Ski Village project hung in balance for which an agreement was signed in 2005. Local deities were said to have opposed the project which was to be taken up by Himalayan Ski Village PVT Limited, a company owned by American business tycoon and Henry Ford’s great-grandson, Alfred Ford.
Maheshwar Singh, a member of the erstwhile Kullu royal family and chief caretaker of local deity Raghunath, recalled how the project was scrapped. “The Jagti (the convention of oracles) was called after 35 years, in 2006 to consult more than 300 deities of Kullu regarding the Ski Village project. I reached out to deities through ‘Gur’ but they rejected the project. This was the main reason for opposition to the project,” he added.
In 2021, the 520 MW Nakthan hydropower project ran into a roadblock for the same reason. The survey areas of Himachal Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (HPPCL) included the Rudranag waterfall where local deities are said to take a holy dip.
“The deities of the region directed locals to oppose the project. Subsequently, the Barsheni Gram panchayat did not give the consent letter to the company for the project,” Nanak Chand, a resident of Manikaran, told ThePrint.
Similar was the fate of a mini hydropower, which was to come up near the Jogni Falls in Manali. The project was shelved in 2010 due to adverse oracles.
“Deities are custodians of our culture as well as natural treasures… We must preserve it and when we fail in doing so, the deities remind us. Development is a must but it should not go in contradiction of public sentiments, faith,” Maheshwar Singh, also the former local MLA and MP, told ThePrint.
(Edited by Tony Rai)
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