STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: The first batch of annual Manimahesh Yatra left Bhadarwah for onward journey to the Holy Shrine of Manimahesh in Bharmod in Himachal Pradesh on Wednesday.
The Yatra commenced from Lakshmi Narayan Temple situated at Mandir Bazaar Bhadarwah, where since morning devotees started assembling from different parts of Chenab Valley and after taking breakfast and lunch there, proceeded towards Manimahesh.
A group of about 2,000 devotees departed from Lakshmi Narayan Temple Bhadarwah to Bheja village, where the pilgrims will stay for a night and then proceed further towards the Shrine in Himachal Pradesh.
It is important to mention here that devotees proceed towards Manimahesh Yatra via Bhadarwah-Padri-Chamba route on foot and during Yatra, pilgrims will reach for its first night stay at Bheja village and on 3rd of August early in the morning the Yatra will proceed to its next stay at Padri Meadows and after that they will enter into Himachal Pradesh for their next stay.
However, another group of Yatris will leave on Raksha Bandhan in busses. President Sanatan Dharam Sabha Bhadarwah Ved Kumar Kotwal said that this is an ancient Yatra and a symbol of unique Nag culture. Despite motorable road devotees still prefer to go on foot with the Holy Mace, which takes a marathon 22 days to complete the pilgrimage.
“Although thousands of devotees from different parts of the country converge every year to take part in historical Manimahesh and Kailash Yatra, but government and Tourism Department in particular should showcase this unique Nag culture in a big way on the pattern of Amarnath Yatra and Vaishno Devi pilgrimage,” Kotwal added. The pilgrims were seen off by the administration and people from all walks of life, who prayed for the happy pilgrimage.
Adequate security arrangement, drinking water facility, medicare and other facilities were made in advance by the administration for the smooth and peaceful conduct of the Yatra.
SDPO Bhadarwah Brijesh Sharma said that we have deployed adequate columns of police, SOG and CRPF with pilgrims beside some advance parties have also been deployed at half a dozen places from Bhadarwah to Khundi-Maral at Chamba border.
“Besides fool proof security arrangements, civil administration have also installed temporary tents at Bhejja, Padri and Bhadarwahi Goth for the pilgrims in view of continuous inclement weather conditions since last one week,” SDPO added. Free Langars have been installed by various devotees en-route to Holy Shrine of Manimahesh.
