STATE TIMES NEWS
BHADARWAH: Despite ho-stile weather conditions since last three days, a record number of pilgrims converged at high altitude Lake- Kailash Kund to have a dip in the Holy Lake on last day of the annual Kailash Yatra.
The Holy Mace of Serpent God, which started from ancient Nag Temple of Gatha was joined on the way by half a dozen Chharis from different parts of the State including Bhalessa, Basant Garh, Bani, Duddu, Billawar and Mathola.
After having night halts at Hayan and Ramtund on 29th and 30th respectively during 21 kilometer long stretch, the pilgrims reached at Holy Kailash Kund, where they had a bath in ice -cold water of the high altitude lake to have blessings of Lord Shiva and Vasuki Nag.
The Kund is a big lake of cold and crystal clear water of 1.5 mile circumference and it is situated at the height of 14,500 feet from the sea level.
According to the local belief, Kailash Kund was the original abode of Shiva, but Lord Shiva gave it to Vasuki Nag and himself went to live at Manimahesh in Bharmod(Himachal Pradesh).
After performing the age old rituals at Kali Nag, Hayan, Gan Thak, Gau – Peera, Ramtund, Shankh Padar and finally today at Kailash Kund, Charri reached back Bhadarwah today evening, where it was received by hundreds of enthusiastic followers of Lord Vasuki Nag at Vasuk Dera.
There were apprehensions that due to sudden cold wave and hostile weather conditions since last fortnight in Bhadarwah, the number of pilgrims will dwindle as reportedly scores of pilgrims cancelled their visit due to bad weather. “It is a very encouraging sign for us that despite continuous bad weat-her, more than 20,000 pilgrims converged at Kailash Kund. This clearly indicates that there is ample potential to showcase this ancient Yatra as symbol of Pilgri-mage Tourism of Bhaderwah Valley,” said Chief Executive Officer, Bhadarwah Develo-pment Authority, Bal Kris-han. “This is a first during recent times that a record 20,000 pilgrims reached the Holy Lake on a single day. This will surely give a boost to our efforts to promote Bhadarwah as a major pilgrim destination,” added Bal Krishan saying that we will try our best to improve the facilities for pilgrims during this tough Yatra.
