STATE TIMES NEWS
POONCH: The Kupwara-Poonch Bike Expedition organized by the Kupwara based Vajra Division started its 6th day by paying tribute at the Naman Sthal and Ajote War Memorial at Poonch and remembering the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers and the citizens of the region for defending Poonch during the Indo-Pak conflict of 1948.
The memorials also stand tall as a homage to the martyrs of 1965 and 1971 wars. The team also interacted with the ignited minds of the Ajote Memorial School and harped upon the importance of constructive engagement of youth and duties towards the society, for nation building.
The Bike Expedition Team thereafter visited the famous Navgarh Temple, dedicated to the nine celestial bodies of Hindu Mythology. This was followed by visit to the Madre-e-Meharban Bridge, named after the wife of Late Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah. The team then moved to Sain Baba Mira Baksh at Gauntrian and offered congregational prayer, the Friday Namaz. The visit to the Mazar was not only symbolic to the theme of the Bike Expedition, but also significant in making a statement.
In no better way could ‘secularism’ of our great nation be brought out in such marvelous manner, than the next stop of the team being the Nagali Sahib, one of the oldest shrines of Sikhs in Northern India, situated on the banks of Drungali Nar.
Yet another stop was at the Swami Budha Amarnath Ji Temple in the middle of Pir Panjal mountain, at the picturesque confluence of Gagri and Pulsta Nadi streams. On their way back to Poonch city, bikers also visited the Ganpati Pandal at Power House Poonch and ate community feast with locals. The Bike Expedition Team prayed for peace and harmony in the region and bonhomie amongst all sections of the society in Jammu and Kashmir.
The team signed off for the day after an enthusiastic discussion with young hockey players, at the Sports Stadium they also visit Hari Sham Indoor Cricket Arena. The contribution of sports for a healthy mind, holistic growth and progressive society was surely in synchronization to what the Bike Odyssey has set out for.