The legend of the nanda Devi Rajt is an important event from sprituo - cultural point of view as the shrines of Nanda Devi are scattered all over the Central Himalayas. The Devi is considered as the Isht-Devi, by the hill folk. The royal family of Garhwal conducts the Nanda Raj Jat to please the Isht-Devi, in order to seek blessings for a prosperous kingdom and the defeat of their enemies. Her relationsh with the people is just the same as that of Sita with Mithila; similarly Gaura is Know to be the daughter of Uttarakhand. Daughter of the king of mountains, Himavat. Gaura

Genesis of the tradition
The event marks the coming of Nanda Devi to her mother's place (mait). During this time Uttarakhand reverberates with festivities. The event finishes when the people of her maiti (mother home), escort her in a procession is called the Nanda Jat. The entire scene is beautifully protrayed in the folk songs and jagars sung by the woman of Uttarakhand. Such Nanda jats are held in almost all the places in the hills, where there is a Nanda Devi temple. Every Garhadhipatis in the hills took out Nanda Jats to place the Isht -Devi. Every Twelve years the Nanda Raj Jat replaces the annual Raj Jat on the route of Homkund, from the temple of Nanda Devi. The dolis of other devtas also know as the 'Birs of Nanda Devi' also join the Raj Jat..The Goril dev of Kumaon and the Lattu Dev of Bandhan are the prominent devtas.
The Nanda Raj Jat war started by ancestors of Rajas of Garhwal. The ancient tradition of taking out Nanda Jats among all the Garhadhipatis, was combined by the raja into a Royal pilgrimage every twelve years. Raja ajay Pal (shesh Pal) of Chandgarh started the nanda Raj Jat in 15 century. Since then, the royal family takes the pilgrimage along with their purohit to seek forgiveness from Nanda Devi, and offer 'Tarpan' for the ancestors who had died at the Roopkund, along with his pregnant wife and courtesans.

Nanda in History
The genesis of Nanda Devi is not very clear. Folk lyrics suggest that Nanda was a princess of the Chanda dynasty of Almora. Some people associate the Goddess with Yog Maya, the daughter of Nanda, who replaced the eighth issye of Vasudev ( father of Krishna ) and who escaped from the hands of her assailant, Kansa and forewarned him of his impending death at the hands of Lord Krishna. There is no mention of Nanda in the Payranas or other scriptures. However, certain later inscriptions mention a Goddess with names similar to Nanda. The Goddess finds mention in Sanskrit literature. Some very old statues found in Mathura show one Goddess as Eknansha. Accordingly, some people believe that the same Goddess was subsequently regarded as Nanda. Naini (of Nainital) and Naina (of Himachal Pradesh) also appear to be variants of the same Goddess. There are ancient temples of the Goddess at about twenty places all over Garhwal. Similar temples are found in Almora region also.

The Legend of Nanda Devi
The history of Nanda Raj Jat is associated with king Jasdhaval of Kannauj. It is believed that the wife of king Vallabha was the daughter of the ruler of Chandour (Garhwal). Once the Queen was cursed by Nanda Devi and consequently her kingdom became a victim of droughts, famines and other natural calamities. The royal priest, on assessing the reason, advised the king to participate in the Nanda Raj Jat, t0 get rid of the curse. So king Jasahaval, Queen Vallabha, Prince Jadeel and Princess Jadeela, along with a troupe of dancing girls and musicians, arrived in Garhwal and joined the Jat at village Bann. They did not obey the prohibitions; to be observed during the Yatra, defying the norms, the king held dancing sessions. Since then the place is known as Patar Nachonia (the spot where the festivities were organised). The entourage had to make a night halt at Roopkund, where the Queen delivered in a cave. The irreverence earned the Devi's wrath, causing heavy snowfall and perishing the entire troupe. It is believed that some people had slipped into Lake Roopkund and the dancing girls had turned into rocks. This accident is believed to have occurred around 1150 A.D. Jasdhaval is believed to be an ancestor of the Prince of Kansua and thus originated the tradition of paying homepage to king Jasdhaval at this point during the Nanda Jat.

The Popularity
Parvati (Shail Putri), the daughter of hills and the concord of Lord Shiva, is known as Nanda in Garhwal & Kumaon areas. The popularity of the Goddess is understandable, as the highest peak of the district has been identified with the name of the deity, also several Nanda temples are situated at all the prominent places in Garhwal and Kumaon like Nauti, Chandpur, Kurur, Devrada, Kulsari, nandkesri, lohajang, Shila Samundra, Nandakot Vaidini, Srinagar, Sink, Devikhet, Nandprayag, Gopeshwar, Helang, Lata Niti and Badrinath. Similarly the kumaon region include Nanda Devi temples located at Nainital, Almora, Baijnath, Shuwbhgash, Munsiyari, Doonagiri, Jageshwar, Bageshwar and Ranikhet.

Farewell to the Devi The festivities come to a standstill, when the time comes for the Devi to leave for her sauras (husband’s home). Special prayers and rituals are performed and the offerings are loaded on the four- horned Ram just like the things given to a daughter in her marriage are sent. The deity is decorated like a bride, ready to leave for her husband's home. The scene becomes pathetic when the devotees, in tears, bid farewell to the Devi, as if they are bidding farewell to their own daughter.

Leaving the image of the Goddess there, the four horned ram proceeds towards Kailash (Trishuli peak) the abode of Lord Shiva on its own.
The Trishuli peak is the highest peak of the Nanda Parbat, the highest mountain range in Chamoli district. The Parbat is revered by the people, the women folk believe that the mist around the Nanda Kot peak is the smoke coming out of the kitchen of Goddess Nanda. They get sentimental while they sing songs associated with their revered Goddess, whom they regard as a pampered daughter of this own.