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Temples Fell But Faith Endures At Devighat After Devastating Floods
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News18•18-10-2026, 22:15
Temples Fell But Faith Endures At Devighat After Devastating Floods
- •Devighat in Nepal was transformed into a wasteland of sand and silt following a catastrophic flash flood on August 26.
- •The floodwaters swept away numerous homes, structures, and sacred temples including the revered Jalapa Devi Temple.
- •Devotees have returned to the riverbank during the Dashain festival to worship, placing holy stones called Shila at the exact spots where shrines once stood.
- •Locals continue their traditions with unwavering devotion, proving that faith remains strong even after physical structures were destroyed.
Key Questions Answered
The devastating flash floods on August 26 were triggered by a massive ice-and-rock collapse high in the Himalayas near the Nepal-China border, which surged down the Bhotekoshi and Trishuli river systems and buried or swept away structures across Devighat.
Devotees have returned to the sites of destroyed shrines and placed holy stones known as “Shila” at the exact locations where the temples once stood, continuing to offer prayers, flowers, and incense to the goddess.
Devighat carries deep religious significance due to its association with the goddess, and it holds historical importance because of its ties to the final days of King Prithvi Narayan Shah, the founder of modern Nepal, who died and was cremated nearby.
