Poonch Today
Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra culminates peacefully amid rise in terror activities in the region; Raksha Bandhan celebrated with religious fervor
Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra culminates peacefully amid rise in terror activities in the region; Raksha Bandhan celebrated with religious fervor
POONCH TODAY NEWS
POONCH: Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra culminated the other day, in which thousands of people from different parts of the country came to Poonch and had darshan of the holy shrine.
People were seen praying for global peace and prosperity while performing darshan of Lord Shiva. Earlier, the yatra started on August 18 and culminated on August 27. On August 28, a massive Chhari procession was taken out from Shri Dashnami Akhara Poonch under the supervision of Sh Vishwatmanand Saraswati ji maharaj, mahant of Sh Dashnami Akhara Poonch. The Chhari yatra was given a ceremonial welcome at Mandi by the civil administration and the police. Thousands of people performed the yatra on foot and were seen chanting hymns and bhajans in favour of Lord Shiva. On August 30, the festival of Raksha Bandhan was also celebrated with religious fervor and gaiety. On August 31st, the holy charri was brought back to Sh. Dashnami Akhara Poonch. However, some yatris criticized the administration and management committee, saying that yatra arrangements were not satisfactory and they faced difficulty during their night stays. It is important to mention here that the last two months remained very hectic for the police, first on the issue of the difference of opinion between Gujjar and Paharis on the proposed ST status for Paharis, then on the issue of the opening of wine shops, and later on Independence Day and then the Sh. Budha Amarnath yatra. Police and civil officials were busy ensuring the peaceful conduct of the yatra. Before the start of the yatra, a trishul yatra was also organized by Dr. Udeshpaul Sharma, the younger son of Late MLC Yashpaul Sharma, to remember the supreme contribution of the late leader of masses for the cause of people from every section of society. At Mandi, there was a complete hustle and bustle as this yatra led to a massive increase in the income of business people. Yatris also appreciated the beauty of Mandi town and the communal harmony between all the religions. The district administration left no stone unturned to ensure proper security arrangements in the district on the occasion of the yatra. The new Mandi bypass bridge was also made operational, and the maximum stretch of the main road in Mandi town was blacktopped ahead of the yatra. CRPF and Army personnel also remained active in providing foolproof security arrangements for the yatra. It is important to mention here that Poonch-Rajouri witnessed a sudden rise in terror activities during the last few months, and ensuring a peaceful yatra was a challenging task for the administration, but the officials of the administration led by the Deputy Commissioner and SSP Poonch played a big role. Both officers were seen regularly visiting different yatra locations in addition to looking for ways and means to strengthen security issues. On the other hand, the massive influx of yatris in Poonch district to perform darshan of Sh. Budha Amarnath is a clear indication that Poonch has come on the national map from a religious tourism point of view, and all-out efforts are required from all the stakeholders to promote Poonch district as a perfect religious tourist destination, said a senior citizen.
