Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 30: The 17th annual Gangbal Yatra commenced today with religious fervor from the historic Naranag temple in district Ganderbal.
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A group of Kashmiri Pandit pilgrims began their spiritual journey from the temple following the revered Chhari Puja.
Escorted by SDRF teams, police personnel, and officials from Health and other Departments, the yatris set out on the 15-km trek to the sacred Gangbal Lake, situated at an altitude of around 14,500 feet in the Harmukh mountain range.
The yatra was ceremoniously flagged off by the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Anshul Garg.
Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore; SSP Ganderbal, Khalil Poswal; besides other civil and police officials were present on the occasion.
Speaking on the occasion, the Div Com commended all stakeholders for their coordinated efforts in ensuring seamless arrangements for the yatra.
The sacred rituals will be performed on the banks of Gangbal Lake, after which the pilgrims will return the next day.
On the occasion, the organizers and devotees expressed their gratitude to the district administration, police authorities, and the local community of Naranag for their invaluable cooperation and support, which have been instrumental in the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
Earlier, a special puja was held at the base camp before heading towards Gangbal Lake, which is famous for offering ritual prayers to the ancestors and deceased members of families.
Kashmiri Pandits residing in different states of the country thronged Naranag to participate in the annual yatra.
The devotees highlighted that adequate arrangements had been made this year and spoke about the significance of the pilgrimage.
“Gangbal and Harmukh are significant for us. It is a high-energy place. There were apprehensions after the Pahalgam incident, but Mahadev wanted us to be here, and here we are,” said a devotee Gunjan Raina.
Calling the lake the “Kailash of Kashmir,” she added, “Our ancestors used to come here and today, we are here and we wish peace for the world.”
This year, multi-layer security arrangements have been put in place for the safety of yatris.
Personnel from the Army, CRPF, J&K Police, SDRF, Forest Protection Force, and volunteers of the J&K State Disaster Management accompanied the pilgrims on their trek.
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