Holy Chhari Yatra taken to Purmandal-Utterbehni Shrine

Devotees moving through river bed of Devak River at Purmandal Shrine.
Devotees moving through river bed of Devak River at Purmandal Shrine.

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Mar 27: The holy Chhari Yatra was taken to historical Shrine of Purmandal-Utterbehni after performing traditional Pooja here today on the occasion of Chetra Krishan Chaturdarshi.
President, J&K Dharmarth Trust, BR Kundal and Thakur Gulchain Singh Charak, Ex Minister and president, Dogra Sadar Sabha, yesterday performed Pooja-Archana at Shree Ranbireshwar Ji Temple and today the Chhari Mubarak was taken to Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, Gandhi Nagar via Shri Raghunath ji Mandir.
After performing special Pooja at Lakshmi Narayan Mandir, under the guidance of Sant Mahatamas, the Holy Mace was taken in a especially made Rath to the historical shrines of Purmandal, after performing Aarti at Shri Mahadev Mandir Gandhi Nagar, Shiv Mandir Trikuta Nagar, Shiv Shakti Mandir Greater Kailash, Shri Narsingh Dev Mandir and Shri Data Ranpat Dev ji Mandir, Birpur where devotees had assembled in large number to pay obeisance.
A large number of people from different communities gave befitting reception to the Yatra enroute at different places. Apart from the office bearers and members of Dogra Sadar Sabha, J&K Dharmarth Trust, Shri Lakshmi Narayan Mandir Management Trust, Gandhi Nagar and Purmandal/ Utterbehni Shrines Development Committee, hundreds of devotees also participated in the ‘Chhari Yatra’  to have the blessings of  Lord Shiva.
On reaching Purmandal, the holy mace was received by thousands of pilgrims at Bus Stand and on the banks of holy Devika chanting slogans of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bum-Bum Bhole”. Thereafter, Chhari was taken to the historical Shiva Temple at Purmandal where Pooja was performed.
Gulchain Singh Charak Shashi Khajuria (Secretary, J&K Dharmarth Trust) highlighted the historical importance of these Duggar pilgrimages and the start of Chhari Yatra and hoped that time is not far off when crores of pilgrims already visiting Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and Baba Amarnath Ji will also visit these historical shrines.