Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU/POONCH, Aug 23: Over 3113 pilgrims from Jammu region and other parts of the country arrived in nearly 75 vehicles at Poonch base camp this evening while `Holy Mace’ will leave for Shri Budha Amarnath Ji Shrine at Rajpura-Mandi from Dahsnanami Akhara, Poonch tomorrow morning.
Official sources said that sixth batch of nearly 1410 pilgrims today performed Darshan at Shri Budha Amarnath Ji shrine at Mandi in district Poonch. Many vehicles with pilgrims arrived directly at Mandi from various parts of Jammu region. The pilgrims after performing Darshan and offering prayers left for their respective destinations.
From Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu Yatra Camp, 1673 Shri Budha Amarnath ji pilgrims in 33 buses and 17 light motor vehicles left for Poonch base camp in the morning. Nearly 1440 more pilgrims boarded in 25 vehicles joined them on the way. Many pilgrims from various districts of Jammu have also arrived Poonch this evening to participate in `Charri Mubarak’ yatra from Poonch Akhara Mandir to the shrine of Baba Budha Amarnath Ji at Rajpura- Mandi.
It is said that this ancient Shrine of Lord Shiva, is situated at the place in Himalyas where Rishi Pulatsya- the grandfather of the King Ravana of Lanka had worshipped for many decades. Pulast river flowing down from Loran-Mandi mountains of Pir Panjal (Himalyas) to Poonch and PoK has been named after the name of this great Saint.
Shri Budha Amarnath Ji Yatra Reception Committee Poonch, including DSP DAR Mohan Lal, other District level officers, SD Sabha Poonch president Satish Sasan, VHP district unit president Nishu Gupta, Bajarang Dal district chief Sourabh, Dashnami Akhara Committee members and others accorded warm reception to the pilgrims arriving from various parts of the country and the state here and garlanded many of them. The committee had also made arrangements of tea and snacks for the arriving pilgrims.
On Friday morning, Charri Pujan will be performed by Shri Shri 1008 Mahamandleshwar Swami Vishavatmanand Saras-wati Ji Maharaj at Dhashnami Akhara Mandir Poonch in presence of Vedic scholars and saints arriving here from various parts of the country. Officers from District Administration will also join the special Puja. Swami Ji will lead the `Charri Mubarak’ from Dashnami Akhara Poonch for Mandi shrine of Shri Budha Amarnath ji at around 9 am along with thousands of devotees under tight security arrangements and reach Mandi in the evening.
The pilgrims coming from Jammu today in 75 vehicles were accorded grand reception en-route as well. They were offered breakfast at Sunderbani and lunch at Rajouri. Most of the pilgrims today were from Uttrakhand, Gujarat, Punjab, Maharashtra, Delhi and Harayana. Many yatris from various districts of Jammu region also arrived today. They had break fast at Sunderbani Langar, lunch at Rajouri Army Convoy Ground and evening tea at an Army unit Bhimber Gali (BG Pass). Besides J&K Police and CRPF, Army is also providing protection to the Yatra en-route.
The pilgrims were accommodated in Akhara Mandir complex, ITI building and in two local Govt Higher Secondary schools for night halt. Many of them also had night stay at Dera Nangali Sahib near Poonch. A Langar has also been set up there for pilgrims at Dera. Tomorrow morning, the 7 th batch of yatris will leave for Shri Budha Amarnath Ji shrine at Rajpura- Mandi from Poonch.
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