Temple buried in Dharali disaster; villagers begin work.
Dharali. A massive flood in the Kheerganga river caused widespread devastation in Dharali, Uttarakhand, on August 5, 2025. During this disaster, the Kalpkedar Temple in Dharali was buried under debris. Now, to retrieve the temple from the debris, villagers have commenced excavation work—accompanied by religious rituals—starting on Sunday, the first day of Sharadiya Navratri. Prayers and a havan (sacred fire ritual) were performed prior to the excavation. The villagers hope that this effort will pave the way for the temple to be restored to view.
The Kalpkedar Temple holds great religious significance for the Dharali region. The local community remains deeply attached to the temple, even after it was buried by the flood. Villagers had long been waiting for the opportunity to recover the temple from the debris. Now, with the commencement of excavation following the prayers and havan on the first day of Navratri, the task has officially begun.
Religious beliefs and the collective faith of the villagers are intertwined with this excavation effort. On August 5 of this year—marking one year since the disaster—the villagers organized a special prayer ceremony. During this ritual, they prayed to Lord Sameshwar, the revered deity of the region, to indicate an auspicious day for recovering the Kalpkedar Temple from the debris.
Seeking the Auspicious Day for Excavation from Lord Sameshwar
The villagers had organized a prayer ceremony on August 5 to mark the first anniversary of the Dharali disaster. During the ceremony, they sought guidance from Lord Sameshwar regarding when to begin the work of retrieving the Kalpkedar Temple. According to the villagers’ belief, Lord Sameshwar signaled that the work should commence on the first day of Sharadiya Navratri.
Subsequently, the villagers prepared to initiate the recovery process on the designated day. On Sunday—the first day of Navratri—prayers and a havan were performed in accordance with traditional rituals. The excavation work began following these religious ceremonies. For the locals, this is not merely a task of clearing debris; it is also an effort to restore the faith associated with the temple and revive the region’s religious traditions. For this reason, the excavation began with a religious ritual.
Temple Buried in the Flood of August 5, 2025
On August 5, 2025, a flood in the Khirganga river severely affected the Dharali area. The disaster brought down massive amounts of debris, engulfing the Kalpkedar Temple. The temple was buried under the debris, presenting a significant challenge for its recovery.
Since the disaster, the issue of restoring the temple has remained a priority for the local community. Villagers have now taken the initiative themselves to excavate the temple from the debris. The excavation, which began on the first day of Shardiya Navratri, is a step in this direction.
Locals had been closely monitoring the situation surrounding the buried temple and the prospects of its recovery. Now, with the excavation commencing alongside religious rituals, there is renewed hope that the project will move forward successfully.
Excavation Begins After Prayers and Havan
On Sunday—the first day of Navratri—the villagers performed prayers and a havan (sacred fire ritual). Following this, excavation work to retrieve the Kalpkedar Temple from the debris began. Religious faith was accorded great importance throughout this process.
Work commenced on the very day the villagers had prayed to the deity Sameshwar during a ceremony held on August 5. According to their belief, the deity had designated the first day of Shardiya Navratri for this task; the excavation was initiated based on this conviction.
However, there is currently no information regarding how long it will take to completely clear the debris and uncover the temple. The subsequent steps will become clear only after the nature of the debris and the temple’s actual condition are revealed during the excavation process. Hopes of Unearthing the Temple
For the villagers of Dharali, excavating the Kalpkedar temple from the debris is a significant undertaking. The memories of the temple being buried following the floods of August 5, 2025, remain vivid among the local residents. Consequently, the commencement of excavation work—marked by religious rituals on the first day of Navratri—is considered a momentous event.
This initiative is driven by both the villagers’ faith and their collective effort. A prayer to determine the start date was offered during a worship ceremony held to mark the first anniversary of the disaster. According to the villagers’ beliefs, the work has now begun following a divine sign received from the deity Sameshwar.
Excavation work is currently underway. All eyes are now on how the Kalpkedar temple, buried beneath the debris, will be unearthed and what condition the temple will be found in once the process is complete.