The Jammu And Kashmir administration flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for Budha Amarnath Yatra from Jammu, as reported by news agency ANI. The 10-day ‘Budha Amarnath’ pilgrimage in the mountainous district of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir is set to begin on Friday amid tight security arrangements with the flagging off of the first batch from Jammu.
#WATCH | J&K: Administration flags of the first batch of pilgrims for Budha Amarnath Yatra from Jammu. pic.twitter.com/G1Z4bCIXNf
— ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2023
All security arrangements have been done for the Budha Amarnath Yatra which has started today and will continue for the next 11 days. Best wishes to all the yatris for their journey, said ADGP Jammu Mukesh Singh, as quoted by ANI. Security has been beefed up across Poonch and Rajouri border districts ahead of the annual yatra which is scheduled to commence on August 18, officials said, as reported by news agency PTI.
The ‘Bhoomi Pujan’ was performed in a traditional way on Thursday. A Bhajan Sandhya was also organised by the Sanskaar Bharti. Sharing details about the yatra, Working President of the Jammu and Kashmir unit of VHP, Rajesh Gupta, said the programme held on Thursday was aimed to welcome the yatris coming from various parts of India. “All arrangements, including those relating to safety and security, have been made by the administration. We are confident to see a peaceful and incident-free yatra,” he said, as quoted by PTI.
The Buddha Amarnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, in Rajpura village in Mandi tehsil of Poonch is one of the oldest shrines of the Jammu region and attracts huge rush of devotees during the yatra which concludes with the arrival of ‘Charri Mubarak’ (holy mace) at the shrine from Dashnami Akhara Poonch.
The River Pulsata flows by the temple, and is considered to be sacred where pilgrims take bath before entering the temple. Thousands of devotees undertake the yatra every year to pay their obeisance at the famous shrine of Lord Shiva. Police assisted by Army and CRPF personnel cordoned off more than a dozen villages in Gursai early Thursday morning for a thorough search operation, the officials said.
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