Early Times Report
Batote (RAMBAN), July 20:The Shankhpal shrine in Ramban district has been attracting the devotees in larger numbers, with each passing year and politicians from its adjoining Ramban, Reasi, Udhampur and Doda districts.
The Shankhpal (one of the Naag Devtas) shrine temple perched in a vast plain meadow at an altitude of about 10,000 ft fsl(from sea level), is three hour trek away from Sanasar, the famous hill resort-18 Km from another famous hill resort, Patnitop.
It is one of the highest peaks of the Ladhadhar range in the area. According to the experts Shankhpal and Vasukinag (temple in Bhaderwah) bear a mention in Rig Veda. According to the priest, Swami Raj the devotees sacrifice goat or a sheep on the Shankhpal Naag Devta Pindi and offer Chattar or Tikka on every Thursday or Sunday there. Several yatras with Chhadies(maces) from Chanderkot,Pernote, Bhatni (all in Ramban district) and Landhar (Udhampur district) comprising of small local yatras from their surrounding areas converge on the 10th Tithi of Ahaad Month of Vikrami Samvat after Amavasya (preferably Sunday or Thursday) every year.
The annual fair at the shrine is a bright example of communal harmony and coexistence as many a local Muslim Gujjars earn their livelihood by selling eatables,Prasad, rare herbs of domestic utilities and giving horse rides to the visiting devotees. The MLA, Ramban, Ashok Kumar and MLC, Shamlal Bhagat were greeted by a big congregation during the annual fair there on July6. Ashok sanctioned Rs.50,000 from his CDF for a water reservoir at the nearest water source and a water tank at the shrine site. MLC,SL Bhagat also sanctioned funds from his CDF for a water supply scheme operated by a water pump from the nearest water source. They both demanded the extension of any of the nearest under construction PMGSY roads either from Landhar in Udhampur district or Bhatni or Sanasar in Ramban district to the shrine and also demanded the Gandola cable car project and promotion of snow skiing, paragliding and other adventure sports there. |
