By King RJ
Bhadarwah Sept 11: To take blessings of Lord Vasuki Nag, thousands of devotees from Jammu & Kashmir and from different parts of country joined three-day-long Annual Kailash Yatra on Monday with the holy mace amid tight security arrangements.
The ‘Charri Mubarak’ (holy mace) was taken out from 2072-year-old Vasuki Nag Temple at Gatha around 8:30 AM in which DC Doda Vishesh Pal Mahajan along with SSP Doda Abdul Qayoom, ADC Bhaderwah Dilmir Chowdhary, ASP Bhaderwah Vinod Sharma also participated. The holy mace was joined by another mace from Vasuki Nag Temple Vasik Dhera Bhadarwah.
Thousands of devotees took part in tthe pilgrimage to the 14,700 feet high Kailash Kund depicting ancient Nag culture of Bhaderwah.
In view of tough conditions, Administration has also issued advisory for Annual pilgrimage and also established special medical camp near Kailash Kund thereby paving the way for thousands of Nag followers to join the Pilgrimage with full of enthusiasm.
President Sanatan Dharam Sabha Bhaderwah Vrinder Razdan, Former MLC Naresh Kumar Gupta, Neeraj Manhas, SDPO Bhaderwah Wasim Mehmood, SHO Bhaderwah Jatinder Singh Rakwal, BDO Bhaderwah Anoop Sharma and others also participated in the rituals connected with the ancient yatra.
As a mark of respect towards other religions and to add symbolic gesture depicting the age old communal harmony and mutual brotherhood, members of muslim community led by Naseer Mehboob also established stall to offer Drinking water and Sharbat to the pilgrims at Mohalla Haveeli near Eidgah. They also wish them a smooth and comfortable pilgrimage. Advocate Chanderkant Gupta and Ex MLC Naresh Gupta also distributed Juice, Biscuits and water to the pilgrims enroute Yatra.
DC Doda Vishesh Pal Mahajan said that it’s our rich culture which we want to show outer world and for this year best ever arrangements has been made to facilitate pilgrims enroute Yatra.
“Water, electricity, Medicare and other facilities have made available at the height of 14700 feet for smooth conduct of this ancient Yatra and we want this Yatra will not be only of Bhaderwah or Jammu and Kashmir but it should be of whole country,” DC added.
SSP Doda Abdul Qayoom said strict security arrangements have been made for the peaceful conduct of the yatra.
“Three tier security system involving Police, Para Military and Army has been put in place all along the 21 km long treacherous route for safety of the pilgrims,” SSP Doda said.
Charri Mubarak’ would reach the high altitude lake on Wednesday morning and the accompanying devotees would perform the traditional prayers and have a holy dip in the ice cold water there.
According to local belief, Kailash Kund was the original abode of lord Shiva, but he gave it to Vasuki Nag before moving to Manmahesh in Bharmour area of Himachal Pradesh.
Head priest Suresh Jogi said that the pilgrimage, which commences on the 14th day after ‘Shravan Purnima’, is considered as one of the toughest, as pilgrims have to trek 21 Km steep Kailash mountains range to reach the holy Kund (lake), where devotees take a dip in the ice-cold water to take the blessings of serpent God.
