STATE TIMES NEWS
POONCH/RAJOURI: The historic centuries old Buddha Amaranth Yatra started on Tuesday with the arrival of first batch of 1,088 pilgrims among 642 male, 405 female and 41 children amid tight security arrangements.
Besides, Hindu religious organisation and district administration, there were large numbers of people from Muslim and other communities who warmly received the Yatris. Speaking on the occasion one of recipients from Muslim community said it is our moral as well as religious duty to show hospitality and respect to our guests, as this is the teaching of our holy prophet and scripted in our holy book and added that let the message of composite culture and mutual brotherhood of this part of the region be spread to others part of the country through pilgrims coming here.
Every year lakhs of devotees make pilgrimage to this place from within and outside the State.
Meanwhile, Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs, Choudhary Zulfkar Ali today flagged off Baba Buddha Amarnath Yatra from AT Ground Rajouri in presence of Kuldeep Raj Gupta, Vice Chairman, State Advisory Board for Development of Pahari Speaking People.
District Development Commissioner Rajouri, Shabir Ahmed Bhat, DIG Police Rajouri-Poonch Range, Johny William and SSP Rajouri, Rajeshwar Singh were also present on the occasion. Members of Shiv Baba Buddha Amarnath Nayas Samiti under the chairmanship of Sat Sharma also gave warm reception to the first batch of pilgrims at Rajouri. A Lagar was also organized at Yarta ground which was inaugurated by Rajguru Mahamandleshwar 1008 Shri Shri Vishwatamanand Saraswati. The Yatra will culminate on Shravan Purnima falling on 18th August after the last batch of pilgrims perform Darshan at holy Temple located in Tehsil Mandi of district Poonch.
