Ronik Sharma
Every year, two to three weeks prior to Rakshabandhan, the Shri Budha Amarnath Ji Yatra begins, during which pilgrims from all across the nation visit the revered temple of Shri Budha Amarnath Shrine situated at Rajpura tehsil Mandi district Poonch. The number of pilgrims who travel to Shri Buddha Amarnath each year is in the tens of thousands. However, before Rakhshabandan, the number of pilgrims increases. Two days prior to Rakshabandhan the holy mace (Chhari Mubarak) popularly known as “Chhari Yatra” starts from Shri Dashnami Akhara Temple to Shri Budha Amarnath Shrine . In the morning the holy mace (Chhari Mubarak) starts from the holy Shrine Shri Dashnami Akhara Temple after the huge participation of locals from twin districts Rajouri and Poonch and from also from other districts of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir and pilgrims from the other states of the Country. In the morning, Swamiji worships the holy mace along with the other pandits and a huge number of dignitaries, including civil, military, and police officials. The sacred Chhari Yatra mace departs towards Shri Buddha Amarnath Shrine following satsang, pooja, havan, and the guard of honour. As part of the Chhari Yatra procession, which starts at Shri Dashnami Akhara Poonch, Swamiji and the holy mace are carried on a palki. Every year, devotees from all walks of life participate in this celebration. The Chhari Yatra arrives in the evening at the Shri Buddha Amarnath shrine.
The (Holy Mace) Chhari Yatra procession is warmly welcomed by locals, political figures from all parties, civil, police, and military officials, as well as members of the Temple committee. Following the guard of honour and the Lord Shiva arti and Pooja of the holy mace at the temple premise, the sacred mace is ceremoniously taken into the temple. As a result, there is no holiday in the Rajouri and Poonch districts due to the Chhari Yatra. Due to the large number of pilgrims from both the districts expected on the Chhari Yatra day, which falls two days before Rakshabandhan, neither the administration of the Union Territory nor the successive governments of the former state of Jammu and Kashmir have been able to proclaim a holiday in honour of this religious festival of the minority community in Jammu and Kashmir. In support of the declaration of a holiday for this significant religious local festival of Chhari Yatra numerous different social and religious organisations, as well as leaders from various political parties, have already made submissions to the government’s administrative department, but in vain. One of the visionary programmes of the Prime Minister of India is the promotion of religious tourism.
The competent State Government as well as union territory administrations are largely responsible for the development and promotion of religious sites as well as local festivals in the districts and other pilgrimage locations. To increase visitor arrivals, the Central Government Ministry has launched a number of efforts to promote tourism in the nation. And now, the Central Ministry of Tourism promotes India as a comprehensive travel destination, highlighting the nation’s numerous tourist attractions, religious places and pilgrimage, and local products in all of its states and union territories. As is well known, the Chhari Yatra for the Shri Budha Amarnath Shrine is a long-standing tradition and religious celebration of the minority community in the Rajouri and Poonch districts. The participation of all communities in this yatra Chhari Yatra also sends a message of communal harmony in both districts of Rajouri, Poonch and all over the country. The Lieutenant Governor is urged to declare a local holiday in both the districts of Rajouri and Poonch in honour of Shri Budha Amarnath Chhari Yatra two days before Rakshabandhan on the day of Shri Budha Amarnath Chhari Yatra in order to ensure that locals will participate in great numbers on this day. This is something that the residents of Rajouri and Poonch have been requesting for a long time because the residents as well as representatives of Rajouri and Poonch districts have long demanded that a holiday be declared in both districts.
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