Radha Krishan Sharma
Yugdhar is one of the ranges of Himalayan mountain which is about 2080 metres from the sea level . It is one metre high than Natha Top. Yugdhar range comprises of upper reaches of villages Satyalta, Tandhar, Nagulta, Gharian, Dhana, Charat, Malad- Satyalta, Barmeen, etc of tehsil Chenani & Ramnagar of district Udhampur. It connects all these villages together. It is about 18 Kms from tehsil Headquarters Chenani . White layer of snow during winters and carpet of green grass during summers makes Yugdhar Charming and attractive.
Baba Yug
Yugdhar is most famous for Baba Yug. There is a thousand years old temple of Baba Yug. In the temple, there are Pindees of Baba Yug and Nagdevta Baba. All the devotees serve Jaggery (Gud) and “Rot” ( thick chapati made of Atta, gud and ghee ) as offering to Baba Yug.
Before 1947 , Raja of Chenani and Raja of Ramnagar used to visit there every year to offer prayers and to obtain the blessing of Baba Yug.They also did bhandaras (Yagya). After 1947, the people of surrounding villages Satyalta, Tandhar, Nagulta, Gharian, Dhanas, Dhar Gaddian, Barmeen, Malad – Satyalta,Sewna, Karian, etc too came there every year for prayers and to obtain his blessings. There is a natural source of water near the temple . Now a water tank has been constructed out of MLA fund in 2014 so that there is a no inconvenience to the people.
Other Holy Shrines
There are several other devsthans of gods and godesses in the surroundings of Baba Yug. These include Pathara Mata, Marada Mata, Kalika mata, Siya Devi, Mohmaya Devi, Pakkan Devi, Malpa Mata, etc.
The temple of Pathara Mata is about 2.5 Km towards west of Baba Yug temple. The Mata is present in the temple as the chandi – Mata and she fulfills the desires of her devotees. The temple of Marada Mata (as a Chandi mata) is situated at Malad – Satyalta, about 4 kms from Baba Yug temple. The Goddess ‘Dadi Baskaar’ is about 1.5 kms South -east of Baba Yug temple. The godesses Kalika Mata and Siya Devi are in village Satyalta about 2 kms below southward of Yugdhar. The godess Pakkan Devi is situated at Pattidhar which is about 2.5 kms towards southwest of Yugdhar.
‘Nagon Ka Pani’ famous for Nagdevta is located at Kolasar in Gharian village about 3 kms towards southwest of Baba Yug Temple.
The temple of ‘ Mohmaya mata ‘ is situated at Mohra Manaal of village Sewna about 7 kms below Baba Yug temple. The temple of ‘Malpa mata’ is situated at Mohra Terthiyal of village Satyalta which is about 10 kms below of Baba Yug temple.
Traditional Yatra
The traditional yatra to Baba Yug temple and other holy places goes every year since time immemorial. The farmers after the cultivation of new crop i.e maize, wheat & rice, first put the prasad to these devsthans.There is a belief that due to this production increases and rains will be on time. The blessings of Baba Yug are also on the bovines. The Yatra to Yug Dhar starts from Sewna, Satyalta, Tandhar, Charat, Nagulta, Gharian, Dhanas, Malad-Satyalta .After reaching Baba Yug temple , they arrange Bhandaras and pray to Baba Yug for the prosperity, good heath, peace , development, happiness, growth and common -brotherhood of the people, country and the world.
Mela BabA Yug
The mela of Baba Yug is held on May 31 every year in which thousands of people participate .On this day , the ‘puja’ of Baba yug ‘ takes place in the temple premises of Baba Yug. After that every devotee pays homage to ‘Baba yug. A Bhandara is also arranged by the local people of the surrounding villages. Different stalls of eatable articles like sweets are also arranged in the mela.
A colourful cultural programme is held in which children , students , youth, and aged people also participate and it comprises of Dogri songs, Bhajans, Bhangada, Lambi – Bhakh etc.
The mela was started in the year 2012 after a long struggle by Sarpanch of Satyalta Baldev Singh with the active support of the then MLA Chenani K.C Bhagat and sarpanch Nagulta Dev Raj Sharma and many others. Mela was inaugurated by the MLA Chenani K.C Bhagat in which thousands of people participated. In the year 2013 M.P Ch. Lal Singh ji and K.C Bhagat participated in the mela as a Chief and Special guests respectively.
How to reach Yug Dhar
There are two ways to proceed to Yugdhar.First is from Chenani town and second way is from Samroli (Aarsian) National Highway.
The first path to Yugdhar is from Chenani town and it is 18 kms long. From Chenani town to Bamaad , there is connectivity and the remaining four kms way is on foot . In this path , one can take the blessings of Pakkan Devi a Goddess which is situated at Pattidhar.
The second way to Yugdhar is from Samroli (Aarsian) National Highway which is about 13 Kms long. The advantage is that one can take the blessings of godesses present in the path. Between Samroli to sewna , there is Malpa Mata temple at Terthiyal, Shivji temple at Sewna. From Sewna, to panchayat ghar Satyalta , there is Mohmaya mata temple & Yug Devta temple. From panchayat Satyalta to Yugdhar , one can go through Slather & Kannat . The Katika Mata and Siya Devi Temple come in this way.
A hall was constructed out of MLA fund for the convenience of the pilgrims in the year 2012 -13 .
Appeal to Government
We appeal to the Govt. of J&K and Govt. of India particularly to the Chief Minister , Dy. Chief Minister , Minister for Tourism, MLA of Chenani to bring Yugdhar on J&K tourism map and to advertise its natural beauty in the print as well as electronic media .
We also appeal to the PWD Minister that the under construction Tandhar to Pakhlai road should be constructed on fast track and it should be repaired upto Badansoo.
Two roads are in the plan of PMGSY are
(1.) Tandhar – Pakhlai road 17km to Tarkund
(2). Sewna High School to Sarkund via Panchayat ghar Satyalta and Chugaal. These roads should be constructed on priority basis .If these roads are constructed, lakhs of people (tourists) will visit Yugdhar and it will boost the economy of Tehsil Chenani and J&K state as well.
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