Excelsior Correspondent
NAGROTA Oct 10: Amid spiritual ambience and recital of Shalokas and Mantras, National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today flagged off an impressive Shobha Yatra of Mata Vaishno Devi at historic Kol Kandoli Temple in Nagrota-the originating point of the ancient route or Pracheen Marg to the Holy Bhavan on the Trikuta Hills.
“There cannot be a befitting way of paying obeisance to the Mata at the magnificent Durbar during the Navratras than embarking on the spiritual odyssey from the Pracheen Marg and having blessings of most revered temples and shrines enroute”, Rana, clad in traditional attire, said while flagging off the yatra.
The MLA Nagrota carried the Jyot-the holy light-in his hands and traversed a long way along with the Shoba Yatra th the devout chanting Jaykaras of the Mata Rani.
The Shoba Yatra will pass through the old heritage route of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji starting from Jagdamba Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple – Jagti, Durga Mata Temple – Pangali, Shiv Temple – Thandapani – Drabi, Shiv Shakti Temple, Raja Mandleek Temple- and Raja Nowalgarh Temple – Marh, Drabi, Kali Mata Temple – Gundla Talab, Ram Darbar, Shiv Temple- Bamyal and Oli Temple Chhapanoo-Bamyal.
Praying for universal peace, Rana hoped this Navratras usher Jammu and Kashmir to new era of tranquility, normalcy and brotherhood. He also hoped that revival of the old traditional route will be Ashirwaad of the Mata to the people of Nagrota Constituency, which will get much needed economic fillip in the years to come.
Rana highlighted the religious, spiritual and secular characteristics of the ancient route, saying while it takes off amid serene and spiritual ambience of the highly revered Kol Kandoli Mata Temple, the pilgrimage progresses via Nomain, where the Jyot (holy light) is carried by white turban bedecked Gujjars over their heads.
“The example of such a communal bonding where Muslims facilitate the Hindu pilgrimage can be rarely seen anywhere in the world”, Rana said, adding this is the real strength of the pluralistic ethos of Jammu and Kashmir.
Rana regretted that as to why this monumental heritage route has suffered neglect for decades even though the bliss of revered shrine on Trikuta Hills had transcended continents. “We have been envisioning restoration of this route and the firm resolve of the people have made it possible to undertake the pilgrimage through the Pracheen or ancient route”, Rana said, hoping the effort will get momentum in years to come.
Prominent among those present at the Shoba Yatra included Randeep Singh President Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Pracheen Margh Pavitar Yatra, Ashok Kumar, Kartar Chand, Vice President, Jagdish Raj Secretary, Harbans Lal, Girdhari Lal, Uttam Singh, Sanjeev Sharma, Sher Singh, Master Parshotam, Arjun Sharma, Dr. Manzoor Choudhary, Bashir Kohli, Habib Hussain, Rajesh Kumar, Rattan Lal and others.
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