Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, Aug 5: Thousands of pilgrims along with Holy Mace reached Shri Budha Amarnath Ji shrine at Mandi this evening.
The head priest, 1008 Swami Vishavatamanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj was leading the Holy Mace. Thousands of devotees/ pilgrims after special puja joined the large religious procession to the shrine of Shri Budha Amarnath Ji at Mandi.
Minister for Industries and Commerce Chander Parkash Ganga flagged off the Holy Mace (Charri Mubarak) of Shri Budha Amarnath Yatra here from Dashnami Akhara, Poonch.
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Legislators Shah Mohammad Tantray, Yashpal Sharma, Pardeep Sharma, Ravinder Raina, Vibodh Gupta and senior officers of district administration, police and army, besides locals cutting across religious lines, members of Yatra Management Committees were also present on the occasion.
The people in thousands from across the district accompanied the Charri Mubarak & Yatris up to Holy Shrine of Buddha Amarnathji at Mandi- situated about 23 km away from Poonch town.
Speaking on the occasion, Ganga said the display of pluralistic sentiment and composite cultural of Poonch should serve as a source of inspiration for the rest of the regions of the State as well as the country.
MLA, Shah Mohammad Tantray said Poonch is a place of Sufis and Saints and their teachings have always preached tolerance, goodwill and mutual respect for all religions. “No one can dare to harm these social values inherited since centuries form these Sufis and Saints,” he asserted.
DDC Poonch Tariq Zargar also greeted the devotees and appreciated the people of Poonch for upholding the tradition of religious tolerance and communal harmony.
Swami Vishavatmanand Ji Maharaj also spoke on the occasion and extended gratitude to all for the support and making this yatra a success.
Brig A R Pandarkar and others received the Holi Mace/ Yatra at Mandi town where locals irrespective of their religious lines in large number. Pilgrims along with Chhari Mubarak would stay there for two days and after Darshan on Raksha Bandan day, will return to Poonch Dashnamai Akhara.
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