Parshuram Kund Festival

The Kund is approached from land only as the sharp curve of the river, along the steep mountain walls; make it inaccessible from the river side. A hillock about 50 feet high rises above the road level. Below the road level are two level grounds. The first one is a narrow strip along the course of the river that ends just near the hillock where the river takes the turn. It is about 15 feet high above the river bed and gently slopes to the west. The ‘mela market ' is held here. About 10-20 feet above it, there is a vast plain with plantation that almost ends in a point where the Namsai- Chowkham- Parshuram Kund road meets the fair-weather road that passes across the ‘mela market. A small clearing about the ‘meeting point accommodates the hall and guest quarters and this section named Parashuram Nagar.

A temporary ‘mela market' is set up at Tezu about 20 kms downstream from the Kund every year on this occasion for a period of three weeks which eventually changes the otherwise thinly populated district headquarters town of Lohit district into a scene of hustle and bustle.Arunachal Pradesh State Transport Corporation provides special bus services for the convenience of the pilgrims. The district Craft Centre also displays traditional articles on the mela spot for sale, thereby displaying the rich traditional heritage of the native people.

Ancient Mythological History

Many Puranic texts have mentioned the story of Parshuram Kund in different ways but the present narration has been mainly drawn from Srimad Bhagavad in the following words: “Parshuram was born to saint Jamadagni and Renuka in Treta. One day, Renuka after taking her bath in Ganga was on her way back to the Ashram when she saw the Gandharva King Chitraratha playing with celestial nymphs. She felt so much attracted to and interested in this sporting scene that she forgot everything. She felt drawn to the king Chitraratha and lost the track of time. When she returned with wet cloths, frightened and absent minded, it was already time for mid-day worship in the Ashram, Jamadagni, her husband who was worried over the delay of her returning from the bath, could perceive why she was late.

Jamadagni then became so much furious for this unusual conduct of Renuka that he lost his self-control. He asked his sons present there to Kill their mother. But none obliged him except Parshuram who obeyed his the father's cruel mandate was a dutiful son. He approached and executed his mother as he was completely mindful of his father’s capacity of Tapasya. He even killed his brothers because they did not carry out their father's command. The handle of the axe which he used, however, clung to his hand. Pleased with his son, Jamadagni desired Parashuram to ask for any boon. Parashuram asked for six boons and one was for the immediate recovery of his mother. However, this did not wipe out his sin.

But with the grant of boon, Parshuram’s sin could not be expiated. Jamadagni advised him to have a pilgrimage to Brahmakund. A holy dip in the Kund would wash off his sin. Accordingly he went to Parshuram Kund in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh, to atone for his matricidal sin. He took a dip in the Kund and felt refreshed. All his sins were washed off and the spot where the axe dropped from his hand came to be known as Parashuram Kund. The Kalika Puram states that a mere bath in the kund leads to emancipation.

About Parshuram Kund

Parshuram Kund is a Hindu pilgrimage spot nestled on the Brahmaputra plateau in the lower reaches of the Lohit River. The origin of the kund is associated with Parashuram’s matricide described in the Srimad Bhagvat, Kalikapurana and in the Mahabharata.The holy site is about 21 km away from Tezu and is dedicated to sage Parshuram. It is believed that taking a dip in the holy water of this lake cleanses one from their sin. The Kund opens up for devotees in January. Every Year, on the day of Makar Sankranti in the month of Magha (usually January 14), pilgrims in thousands from various part of the country visit the place for a holy dip.Thus, for a period of two to three weeks in January every year Parshuram Kund turns into a minindia. Hence, in view of this, the Parashuram Kund mela in the Lohit district of Arunachal Pradesh is regarded as “The Kumbh Mela of the East".

Things to Do & See in and around

Apart from taking a dip in the water, one can try trekking from Tezu to Glow Lake which takes one day; hiking, river rafting and angling on the River Lohit are also ideal.

Best Time to Visit

Annual fair during Makara Sankranti in January is the best time to plan a visit here.