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The Devidhura Fair is held on the day of Raksha Bandhan in
August, at the Varahi Devi Temple. Devidhura is situated at the
trijunction of Almora,
Pithoragarh &
Nainital districts. A unique feature of the
fair is the image of the goddess, kept in a locked brass casket. This
casket is taken in a procession to a nearby mountain spring where a
blindfolded priest ritually bathes the image and replaces it in the
casket.
The whole night the Goddess is worshipped and the next morning the
exciting "Bagwaal" fair is celebrated. Two groups of men duly
purified, fight a "battle" in front of the temple flinging
stones at each other, while thousands gather to watch.