Known all over the country for its communal harmony, Poonch is all set to welcome the Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra; Huge security challenge for the administration

Known all over the country for its communal harmony, Poonch is all set to welcome the Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra; Huge security challenge for the administration

POONCH TODAY NEWS

POONCH: Despite suffering heavily after Operation Sindoor, Poonch is all set to welcome the historic Sh Budha Amarnath yatra from the 28th of July 2025. Adequate arrangements have already been made by the district administration, and efforts were going on to ensure all the facilities for the pilgrims up to the time of filing this report. DC Poonch Vikas Kundal and SSP Poonch Shafqat Butt conducted a number of meetings to ensure a successful and peaceful yatra.

The district administration stressed coordination between different departments to ensure all facilities for the pilgrims. DC Poonch directed the officers of the concerned departments to ensure regular water and power supply, first aid facilities, proper sanitation, mobile toilets, smooth traffic, and parking facilities so that not a single pilgrim faces any type of inconvenience. A number of meetings were also held at Mandi in the presence of Swami Vishwatmanand Saraswati Ji, head of the Dashnami Akhara religious seat, in which prominent people of Mandi and Poonch, besides officers of police and civil administration, took part. A threadbare discussion on various issues took place, and it was resolved to ensure a peaceful and successful yatra as per the past practice by addressing all issues in advance. It is pertinent to mention here that the people of Mandi have played a remarkable role for decades in the peaceful and successful completion of successive yatras. The yatra was started by Bajrang Dal and VHP in the year 2005, and after that, it remained a regular annual affair. The people of Poonch, irrespective of their caste, color, and creed, have always played a big role in the successful and peaceful completion of the yatra for years. This yatra sends a big message of communal harmony to the entire country. Every year, thousands of yatris from different states take part in the Shri Budha Amarnath yatra and spread the message of peace, communal harmony, and nationalism throughout the country. Poonch people, despite suffering heavily after the Operation Sindoor, have left the tragedy behind and are all set to welcome the yatra, which is just a few days away. It’s the sheer determination of the people of Poonch, who, despite facing a war-like situation that led to the killing of 14 people, including children, and injuring many, in addition to damaging properties worth crores, have again decided to give a message of peace, communal harmony, and nationalism to the entire country by opening their arms for the Yatris, who are expected to reach Poonch in several thousands. The Shri Budha Amarnath temple is located at the confluence of the Gagri and Pulasta rivers and is 25 km from the Poonch city. The people from the entire country have a huge faith in this temple of Lord Shiva. This year, the holy Chhari Mubarak under the supervision of Swami Vishwatmanand Saraswati Ji will take place from Poonch to Mandi on the 7th of August, and the Raksha Bandhan festival will be celebrated on the 9th of August. It’s a big responsibility of the police and the civil administration to ensure foolproof security and all facilities for the pilgrims, and accordingly, all efforts were going on up to the time of writing this report. Nishu Gupta, J&K VHP president, said, “All the issues related to the yatra were brought to the notice of the district administration, and accordingly all plans have been made, and their implementations have been going on the ground. Officers from the top and district levels also conducted various meetings, and we are hopeful to witness another peaceful and successful yatra with the cooperation of people from every section of the society. The people of Mandi are also stakeholders in this yatra. Poonch faced the worst crisis during Operation Sindoor, but it’s a positive sign that the people of Poonch have left everything behind and are keen to welcome the yatra with their open hearts. I request the authorities to ensure security at all levels, as we cannot trust Pakistan, who is ever ready to disrupt peace in J&K.” Civil society member Taj Mir said, “We always stood with the yatra for decades because we believe in communal harmony and brotherhood. I saw DC Poonch and SSP Poonch taking keen interest in ensuring a peaceful and successful yatra by conducting regular meetings. I am hopeful the people of Poonch, by forgetting the horrible memories of Operation Sindoor, will stand united to welcome the yatra this year and also to send a message of peace and communal harmony.” Former BDC Chairman Mandi, Shamim Ganai, said, “The people of Mandi have always welcomed the yatris with their open hearts for years, and this year too, we are eagerly waiting for the start of the yatra as it will again give the locals an opportunity to earn their livings and to understand the culture and traditions of people from different states. During various meetings, I also raised some issues, and I am hopeful that district administration and Swami Ji will give priority to those issues in the interest of smooth completion of the yatra.” It is pertinent to mention here that the Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra Mandi has a huge importance after the Amarnath Yatra of Kashmir, but unfortunately, no solid efforts were made by the government to construct a high-quality road to this shrine of historical importance, although blacktopping work remained the only option before the administration as a formality to fill the potholes. It’s unfortunate that Mandi gave maximum legislators to Poonch, but all of them have failed to plan a double-lane road from Chandak to Mandi for decades to allow the people to visit shrines of Sina Ilahi Baksh Loran and Sh Budha Amarnath Shrine. It’s high time for the government to address the issue once and for all and let Mandi shine on the map of religious tourism to attract pilgrims throughout the year from the entire country. This year’s yatra is a big security challenge for the administration, as the said yatra has come after the dreaded Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor. Despite facing a massive challenge during and after Operation Sindoor, the people of Poonch are eagerly waiting for the yatra to spread a message of peace and communal harmony.