Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 8: The annual Buda Amarnath Yatra in Mandi tehsil of Poonch district will be flagged off by Deputy Chief Minister, Dr Nirmal Singh from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here tomorrow morning.
This was stated by Baba Amarnath and Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas president Surinder Mohan Aggarwal while talking to Excelsior after the Bhoomi Poojan and other rituals were performed at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas this evening.
He said over 1200 pilgrims will leave in the first batch tomorrow for darshan of Buda Aamrath and the Niyas has made all arrangements for the pilgrims.
The Bhoomi Poojan was performed under the leadership of Champat Raj International general secretary, VHP and Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal, BD national convener Rajesh Pandey, VHP senior leader Dr Rama Kant Dubey, State president VHP Leela Karan Sharma, Surinder Mohan Aggarwal, Sudershan Khajuria, Karan Singh Charak and hundreds of devotees as well as representatives of various religious and social organizations attended the function.
In his address Champat Rai asks Hindus to remain united to frustrate the designs of those elements who want to create hurdles in annual Swami Amarnath yatra. He regretted that the number of yatris to holy cave decreased this year to a great extent due to turmoil which was the game plan of separatists and ultras who want to make the yatra a failure.
He said Buda Amarnath yatra was started in 2005 by Bajrang Dal and now it runs for whole year. But BD still runs the symbolic yatra to holy temple ten days prior to Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandan), he added.
Champat Rai said earlier all Hindus from the Mandi tehsil and other areas of Poonch district had migrated due to militancy and after the Buda Amarnath yatra was restarted by BD in 2005 the Hindus returned back to their homes and hearts in the area.
In his address Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal said that administration is committed to provide security to the pilgrims and arrange all facilities for them.
Rajesh Pandey national convener BD also spoke on the occasion and highlighted the role of BD in resuming both Buda Amarnath and Swami Amarnath yatras.
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