Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, July 31: The ‘Chhari Mubarak’ of Lord Shiva reached the shrine of Shri Budha Amarnathji at Mandi on the last leg of annual pilgrimage from here this evening.
Over 30,000 devotees including women and children from all over the country participated in the procession amid chanting of hymns and religious slogans which was led by 1008 Swami Vishavatma Anand Ji Maharaj – the head priest of Shri Dashanami Akhara Mandir, Poonch . The procession started at 9.30 am. The devotees covering nearly 23 km distance on foot since morning, reached the shrine at around 4.30 pm. They were accorded reception at various places by members from other community enroute.
Earlier, in the morning the Chhari Pujan was performed between 7 am to 8 am by the Head Priest of Dashnami Akhara Mandir in which Congress MP Ch Lal Singh, MOS for CAPD and PDD Shabir Ahmed Khan and Brig M K Maggu besides heads of various religious bodies participated. Senior officers of the district administration were also present. After completion of Pooja, a function was organised in the city here in which people from all the communities participated.
This special function was held under the Chairmanship of Swami Ji, in which local MLA Aijaz Ahmed Jan, DDC Syed Anwar Hussain Shah, SP Poonch, Shamsheer Hussain, Brigadier MK Maggu, senior officers of District administration, members of Akhara Mandir Committee, members of religious bodies of Poonch including SD Sabha, VHP, Bajrang Dal, representatives of Ram Dass Seva Ji Society Poonch, Sadhus hailing from all over the country and prominent citizens besides devotees participated.
While speaking on the occasion, Shabir Khan appreciated the creation of community based infrastructure by Swami ji. He conveyed his heartfelt greetings to the people on Raksha Bandhan and offered all help to resolve electricity problem in Poonch.
MP Lal Singh highlighted rich culture of Poonch and said the brave people of this district have always exhibited great communal harmony and worked to strengthen brotherhood and mutual love among all communities. He also offered all help for promotion of community work in capacity as MP. Similar views were expressed by MLA Poonch.
Swami Ji in his presidential address said , great saints see God in all living beings therefore, the people should work for peace, well being of others, maintaining brotherhood and preach doctrines of love, unity and communal harmony. The people should avoid cult of hatred as their good work leaves its impact for decades to come. He appreciated wisdom and co–existence of all faiths among Poonch people, who participate in large number in the religious functions of all communities. He said the devotees showered flowers over ‘Holy Mace’ procession and installed stalls of eatable enroute.
Swami Ji hailed the activists of voluntary organisations, who helped in Yatra management, District Administration Poonch, who made fool proof arrangement for security, transportation, accommodation and other related arrangements for smooth conduct of the Yatra.
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