SIRMUR

Balasundri Devi temple at Tilokpur, (tahsil Nahan) has great peculiarity. Here also the image of the Devi is like stone lingam the emblem of Siva. There are two small temples in front of the main temple, one of Bhairon and the other of Chatur Bhuji Devi. A large annual fair is held in the Bikrami month of Chet. Though the fair has lost most of its importance because of the decline of the princely house, the number of pilgrims visiting the fair from different districts is to the tune of 15,000 persons.

Some temples commemorate the fight of the Rajputs of Nahan area with the Muslims as well. The temple of Devi Katara at Bara Bam (tahsil Nahan) is one of them. According to legend in a battle between Rajputs and Ghulam Quadir Rohilla, a woman appeared fighting for the former when their defeat seemed imminent, and the Muhammedans were routed. A temple was built at Bara Ban to commemorate the Rajput victory. On the sixth day of the "Navratras" (first nine days of the bright half) in the Bikrami month of Asauj and Chet a "Hawan" (sacrificial fire) is performed in the temple.

In the past the Rajah of Sirmur, occasionally, visited the temple in person or deputed a member of the royal family to be present at the time of the sacrificial fire. During this occasion, pilgrims in batches of twenty or thirty keep on coming and going.They offer at the altar of thegoddess flowers and "Patashey" (a sweetmeat). It is said that in the past on every first Sunday of a Bikrami month, a lion used to come to the temple to pay his respects.

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