Tourism Deptt organises ‘Pracheen Marg Yatra’ to revive traditional route of Vaishno Devi pilgrimage from Kol Kandoli

Rana for promotion of heritage route

STATE TIMES NEWS

JAMMU: On the occasion of fifth day of holy Chaitra Navratra, the Directorate of Tourism Jammu organized ‘Pracheen Marg Yatra’ which was flagged off from the ancient Mata Kol Kandoli Temple Nagrota on Sunday.
The traditional Yatra was organized from Nagrota and culminated at Oli Temple Chappanno which further connects to Deva Mayi Temple Katra.
The Yatra was flagged off by Sunaina Sharma Mehta Joint Director Tourism Jammu along with Devender Singh Rana senior BJP leader and former MLA Nagrota constituency, S.M Sahni (Regional Director, INTACH Jammu Chapter) along with local stakeholders, members of INTACH Jammu Chapter, prominent citizens of Nagrota and tourism stakeholders.
The Yatra carried the holy ‘Jyot’ in the form of ‘Chhari’ which started from Kol Kandoli Temple, also the first Padaav of Maa Vaishno Devi Yatra.
The Yatra was attended by hundreds of devotees and pilgrims amid chanting ‘Jai Mata Di’ and was received with a grand reception at Mata Jagdamba Temple, Jagti with mesmerizing beats of dhols and traditional drum beaters.
The Shobha Yatra was led by cultural troupes in traditional attires doning the Dogri Pagri and Mata ki Chunari while performing the traditional kud and other folk performances.
The Yatra further reached Pangali from where it started its onward holy journey towards Shiv Temple Drabi and Gundla, further reaching Shiv Temple Bamyal and finally culminating at Mahalakshmi Temple Oli Chapanoo.
Speaking on the occasion, Sunaina Sharma said that the Directorate of Tourism Jammu is committed to revive the traditional Yatra Route of Maa Vaishno Devi Yatra and shall take more steps to organize awareness amongst the younger generation regarding the significance of this traditional route and also popularize it amongst the visiting pilgrims.
She further added that Department of Tourism shall soon popularize the pilgrimage circuits across Jammu region like the ‘Shiv Shakti Circuit’, ‘the Rudra Pilgrimage Circuit’ among others and special emphasis shall also be laid on the Jammu based tourist destinations so that the tourists visiting can plan their itinerary well in advance and visit various exquisite tourist places of Jammu region.
Speaking on the occasion, Senior BJP leader, Devender Singh Rana on Sunday said that promotion of the ancient heritage route to Shri Mata Vaishno Deviji Cave Shrine from Kol Kandoli Temple in Nagrota will bestow added spiritual bliss to pilgrims thronging from across the country and abroad and give renewed impetus to the Jammu economy.
Devender Rana appreciated the organizers Harbans Lal, Randeep Singh, Pt. Jagdish Raj Sharma and all their team members, saying the effort will go a long way in promoting the ancient route, rich with spiritual bliss.
Among others present on the occasion were Ambika Bali Assistant Director Tourism, Kali Dass Verma President All J&K Tempo Traveller Owner Union, Shamsher Singh Chairman All J&K Tempo Traveller Owner Union among other tourism stakeholders including travel agents of Jammu region and officials of Tourism Department Jammu.
It is pertinent to mention here that INTACH Jammu Chapter is trying to revive the traditional yatra route by working on revival and upkeep of these traditional temples and bowlis falling on the Old Yatra Route till Deva Mayi Temple Katra.
It is worthwhile to mention here that the Yatris have been walking on the traditional Yatra route since many centuries now when there was no proper road network and these temples were strategically built at places which could provide night halt and shelter to travellers and pilgrims along with facilities for resting with natural water resources around these places.