Scores of devotees converged at ancient Vasuki Nag Temple Ghatha, in Bhaderwah Tehsil of District Doda, to join ‘Charri’ (holy mace) of Kailash Yatra, a symbol of Nag culture in Jammu and Kashmir.
The devotees from different parts of the country thronged the 2067 year old temple, believed to be the house of Lord Vasuki Nag (Serpent God), to take part in the three day long Kailash Yatra.
The Yatra along with holy Mace, which started from the ancient Vasuki Temple Ghatha, will reach holy Kailash Kund on 8th of this month.
Every year thousands of pilgrims from Jammu & Kashmir and elsewhere participate in Kailash Yatra.
This pilgrimage is considered as one of the toughest as pilgrims have to trekk 21 Km of steep Kailash mountains to reach the holy Kund (lake), which is situated at a height of 14700 Ft from the sea level.
The devotees take a dip in the ice-cold water to take the blessings of Serpent God.
MLC, Naresh Kumar Gupta, MLA, Bhaderwah, Daleep Singh Parihar, state president, Janta Dal (S) Mast Nath Yogi and president, Sanatan Dharam Sabha Bhaderwah, Ved Kumar Kotwal also joined the Charri.
“I came to know about this pilgrimage during my Amarnath Yatra and I decided to join this ancient Nag Yatra,” said a pilgrim from Surat Gujrat, Rosaina Modi.
Meanwhile, tight security arrangements have been made for the yatra. Police, CRPF and Army Jawans have been deployed all along 21 Km route.
“We have made elaborate security arrangements. The Police, Army and CRPF Jawans hav also been deployed all along the ytara route to provide foolproof security to the pilgrims,” said ASP, Bhaderwah, Rajinder Singh.
Army has sensitized all the high altitude reaches surrounding the yatra route, he said.