Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Oct 22: Hundreds of devotees drawn from different parts of Kashmir Valley and Jammu thronged the ancient Durga Nag shrine at Dalgate, Srinagar on the occasion of Durga Ashtami today and participated in the bi-annual Maha Yagya organized by Durga Nag Trust headed by Vijay Bakaya former Chief Secretary.
The Maha Yagya started yesterday evening with Kalash Puja and culminated with Puran ahuti this afternoon. The devotees on the occasion also paid obeisance to Goddess Durga in the temple and participated in Bhajan Kirtan.
The Maha Yagya was solemnized under the supervision of Jyotshi Avtar Krishan Shastri by Kundan Kashmiri and C L Razdan both trustees and M K Pandita. The religious scholars on the occasion highlighted the religious significance of Durga Ashtami and the holy shrine. They said Durga Nag is one of the ancient Hindu shrines of Kashmir in the foothills of Gopadari. The shrine is also linked to annual holy Amarnath yatra and holy mace on way to Amarnath Ji shrine used to pay obeisance at Durga Nag after starting annual yatra from Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar. The devotees were served Prashad after Puranahuti.