Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 2: Shrines and Temples Prabhandak Committee, (STPC) Tral, Awantipora Kashmir has reiterated its appeal to district administration, Pulwama to allow four or five members of the Committee to perform symbolic Pujan at Navdal Tral which is an ancient shrine dating back to Purnaic period and where traditionally the Amarnath yatra culmination ceremony was performed by immersion of sticks and other relics associated with the yatra in the holy springs on Navdal Chorum.
In a statement issued here, today by president of the Committee Advocate, C L Bhat and its senior member, Dr Ramesh Bhat while addressing a meeting of the Committee at Muthi which was held with strict observance of the COVID -19 guidelines said that Navdal is the ancient Kashmiri Pandit shrine having nine springs and a highly precious Shivlinga exists in one of them from times immemorial.
The meeting said that in view of the COVID though this year the annual yatra could not be taken as usual but the district administration is requested to issue permission to four or five members to perform symbolic Puja at the shrine to keep the tradition alive.
The meeting also made an appeal to Mahant Deependra Giri Ji Maharaj the founder of True Trust and custodian of holy mace of Swami Amarnath Ji to include the Nav Dal Shrine in the annual itinerary of Chhari Mubarak also in accordance to wishes of Kashmiri Pandits.
It said August 7 i. e fourth day of Badur Krishna Paksh Chorum known as Navdal Chorum in Kashmiri dialect the reference of which is also in the ancient text of Amreshwar Mhatem, Bringhesh Samihta, Neel Math Puran and Raj Tanrangi. On this day the Yatra culminates with visarjan ceremony and Rudhra Mahaabhishekh of the highly precious Shivling is performed by the devotees on that day.
The Committee has also requested the Lt Governor, G C Murmu to include at least its two members in the Amaranth Shrine Board (SASB) as it will inculcate the ancient best practices of the pilgrimage which are missing at present. The Pooja Padhati at the holy cave has also to be performed as per ancient cultural tradition of Shivite Shev Dharshan philosophy of Kashmir, it added.
The meeting complimented the district Pulwama administration which had taken steps for thorough cleaning of holy spring and its adjoining area at Nowdal.
A symbolic pooja on the day will be observed at Jammu also on the day after strictly complying the lockdown guidelines said president, it added.
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