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| Ritual presentations spell bound tour, travel delegates | | Azad accords rousing send-off to Kailash yatris | | early times reporter
BHADARWAH | August 20
It was amidst chants of Jai Naga Vasuki Ki, Bholay ka jaikara hoi gaa nishkara that the annual pilgrimage to revered Kailash Kund was accorded a rousing send-off by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad from the historic Vasuki Nag Mandir at Gatha in Bhadarwa, here this morning.
Attired in traditional outfits, the pilgrimage to Kailash Kund commenced with performance of rituals and oblations by the devotees of the Vasuki Nag and local priests, while the other pilgrims intoned the mantras and hymns.
The Chief Minister participated in all the ceremonial and traditional rites associated with the commencement of Kailash Yatra that invariably includes puja at Gatha and Seri Vasuki Nag temples, handing over of Chari Mubarak and other offerings.
Interacting with the devotees, who thronged at the Gatha Vasuki Nag temple in large number despite drizzling, the Chief Minister said that the annual Yatra reaffirmed the bonds of unity that exists among people of Bhadarwah.
Azad said that this year’s Kailash Yatra is marked conspicuously by the initiation of helicopter service to the revered abode of Lord Shiva. On the significance and historics of the Kailash Kund, he said that Bhadarwah is blessed to have such picturesque religious destination where people from all faiths converge. He said, ‘if China can boast of having Kialash Mansarover, Bhadarwah swanks of being sanctified with chotta Kialash Kund’.
The Kailash Yatra procession was marked by traditional presentation by the devotees, spell bounded even the All India Domestic Tour and Travel delegates, who attended the ceremony. Transport Minister Mangat Ram Sharma, senior Congress leader Mohammad Sharief Niaz besides prominent citizens of Bhadarwah were also present and participated in the Chari Mubarak.
On the suggestions of the delegates for projecting the rich and distinctive procession on a large scale, the Chief Minister said that besides developing the landscape bounding Gatha Vasuki Nag temple, appropriate measures would be taken to promote the procession as a part of heritage and cultural tourism.
A Bengali delegate Vandana Gupta, who participated in the Kailash Yatra Chari Mubarak procession, said that she was taken aback by the loaded presentations that even surpassed the cultural richness of Bengal. ‘If adequate tourism infrastructure is created for Gatha - the seat of Vasuki Nag, a heavy influx of devotees is a sure in coming years’, she maintained.
Located at an elevation of 14500 feet above sea level, the revered Kailash Kund is abode of Almighty Lord Shiva according to Hindu mythology. The pilgrims traverse the 22 kms long mountainous track on foot, some of them even bare-footed, and on reaching the destination i.e Kailash Kund- a lake surrounded by thick coniferous forest abounding in rarest herbal and medicinal plants, have a dip in it. Thereafter, these devotees pay their obeisance to the Shiva Lingam. |
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