Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, July 12: Two-day long annual yatra of Shri Ashtadash Bhuja Mata Sarthal Devi Ji began early this morning by organizing Hawan at Shri Gori Shanker Mandir Sarkoot in which number of couples offered the ‘Aahuties’ and ‘Puran Aahuti’ (culmination).
Impressive Shobha Yatra accompanied the Chari Mubarak, which was taken from Sh Gori Shanker Mandir Sarkoot by Sanjeev Parihar, vice chairman, Shri Sarthal Devi Ji Management Council with active and full cooperation of all the members of management committee.
Thousands of devotees including men, women and children were chanting the religious slogans and Bhajans along with several Bhajan mandlies throughout the route. The locals of various localities accorded warm welcome to Chari Mubarak and organized stalls of Parsad and Sharbat for the yatris.
On the occasion, district administration and police also extended full support and made elaborate security arrangements. The historic Yatra is organized every year since Dogra regime and each and every devotee has a unique faith in the Yatra.
It is pertinent to mention here that Shri Sarthal Devi Ji is the ‘Kul Devi’ of the area. Every holy ceremony is celebrated with the blessings of the Mata. The Yatra is being organized by Shri Sarthal Devi Ji Trust under the patronage of Dr Karan Singh, sole Trustee.
This year the presence of folk dance of Paddar with their traditional wearing and beating local drum known as ‘Kudd’ was remained attraction of the devotees. Free transportation, boarding and lodging has been arranged by the management with the support of well wishers.
Minister of State for Transport, PWD (R&B), Revenue, RDD, Panchayati Raj, Agriculture Production and Youth Services and Sports Sunil Kumar Sharma, besides DDC and SSP Kishtwar accompanied the Shobha Yatra.
On the occasion, the Minister sanctioned Rs 10 lakh for up-gradation of existing Sarai at Sarthal and assured that very soon black topping of the Kishtwar- Sarthal road would be taken up. He said with the development of Gali Garh, improved facilities would be made available to the yatris and from next year Gali Garh would become first stop for the annual yatra.
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