Excelsior Correspondent
KISHTWAR, June 26: The revered annual Yatra of Shri Ashtadash Bhuja Mata Sarthal Devi Ji commenced from here today marking the beginning of a joyous and spiritually significant event.
The Yatra started with a grand Hawan ceremony at Gori Shankar Mandir, Sarkoot, where devotees offered ‘Aahuti & Puran Aahuti’.
Accompanied by an impressive Shoba Yatra, the Chari Mubarak (holy procession) passed through Chowgan ground, Shahedi Chowk and Bus Stand after starting from Gori Shankar Mandir.
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Thousands of devotees including men, women and children enthusiastically chanted religious slogans and devotional songs amidst traditional drum beats all along the procession route.
At Bus Stand, the devotees boarded buses and other vehicles to make their way to the historic Sarthal Devi Temple in Kishtwar. Tomorrow morning (on June 27) a Maha Yajna will be performed at Sarthal Devi Mandir.
District administration and police have made proper arrangements for security, drinking water, power supply, transportation and other essential facilities at Sarthal and Kishtwar to ensure smooth and comfortable Yatra for devotees.
Sarthal Devi Ji is revered as ‘Kul Devi’ of the region. The historic Yatra has been organized every year since the Dogra rule and each devotee holds a deep and unique faith in this sacred pilgrimage.
The Yatra is annually organized by Shri Sarthal Devi Ji Trust under the patronage of Dr. Karan Singh, the sole trustee and Vikramaditya Singh, Chairman Trustee of the Trust.
Accompanying the Yatra were Pooja Thakur, Chairperson of District Development Council Kishtwar; Khalil Ahmed Poswal, SSP Kishtwar; Sham Lal, Additional District Development Commissioner Kishtwar; Additional District Magistrate, Inderjit Singh Parihar; ACR Varunjeet Charak; Former Minister, Sunil Sharma; Surinder Sen, president Santan Dharma Sabha; Sanjeev Parihar, vice chairman Shri Sarthal Devi Management Council; Hans Raj Bhutyal, president VHP; Sanjay Wazir, president Rajput Sabha; Anju Singh Sen, president Hindu Jagran Manch; Aalaya Sen, Dharam Jagran Manch; Oma Devi, Anjali Chouhan and others.
Varinder Jamwal, additional secretary J&K Dharmarth Trust also participated in this three day long traditional Yatra.
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