Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Sept 9: Kashmiri Pandits undertook the annual pilgrimage to the 14,500 feet-high Harmukh-Gangbal lake shrine in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district amid tight security.
The three-day Gangbal yatra, which began on September 5 and concluded on September 7, was undertaken according to schedule amid tight security, with Army, CRPF and local police guarding the pilgrims, officials said.
A group of nearly three dozen Kashmiri Pandits left for the shrine from Naranag temple here, the officials said. Click here to watch video
The group, mostly comprising Kashmiri Pandits, commenced the 36-km journey on foot after performing “Charri Puja” at the ancient Naranag temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva on September 5. The temple, historians say, was built by King Lalitaditya Muktapida of the Kayastha Naga Karkota Dynasty in the 8th century AD.
The pilgrimage under the banner of the Harmukh Ganga (Gangbal) Trust (HGGT) and the All Parties Migrants’ Coordination Committee (APMCC) ended on Saturday, the officials said.
King C Bharati, vice president of the HGGT, said the Kashmiri Pandit pilgrims who arrived in Srinagar on September 4 from all over India assembled at Naran Naag in Kangan tehsil of Gangbal on September 5.
He said senior officials of local police, CRPF and army and civil administration flagged off the yatra and officials of other departments also attended the holy mace (Charri Puja) ceremony at Narannag temple.
APMCC chairman, Vinod Pandit, who was part of the devotees, said the Charri Puja was conducted before proceeding on foot towards Trinkhul Base from where the yatris after a night stay left for holy Gangbal lake to perform Shardha of security forces who sacrificed their lives for the nation and ancestors of the community on September 6, on the auspicious day of Ganga Ashtami along with individual Shradha by the pilgrims.
He said the pilgrims offered special prayers for early return of peace to Jammu and Kashmir.
The Gangbal lake, located in the foothills of majestic Harmukh mountain, is about 3.5 km long, half-km wide and 80-metre deep. Kashmiri Hindus used to immerse the mortal remains of their relatives at Gangbal from time immemorial.
Anil Bhat president of the Trust said that the yatra has seen significant growth over the past several years adding the Chhari Pujan of Ganga Chhari was conducted at 8am while the holy Chhari was flagged off at 8:30 am.
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