Devotees throng Navdal shrine

Excelsior Correspondent

JAMMU, Sept 3: Hundreds of devotees thronged Navdal Tral in Pulwama district of South Kashmir on the occasion of Navdal Chouram today and participated in annual religious function.

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The devotees had come from different parts of Kashmir and Jammu region. They participated in religious function and paid obeisance to Lord Shiva at the shrine after performing a holy dip in the water of springs there.
The function was organised by Temples and Shrines Prabandhak Committee Tral Awantipora led by Dr Ramesh Bhat.
The dignitaries present on the occasion were MP Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency Justice (retd) Husnain Masoodi, DDC members, Tral and Dadsar and LJP leader, Sanjay Saraf.
The Navdal shrine is one of the ancient religious places of Hindus dating back to Puranic period which is associated with annual Amarnath pilgrimage.
As per Purans the holy Amarnath Yatra was considered incomplete unless the pilgrims do not visit this place on Navdal Chouram for immersion of relics there and taking a holy dip in the springs.
There were nine springs besides a Shiv temple at this shrine. However after mass exodus of 1989 the devotees could not visit this holy place during annual yatra. But about a decade back the Prabandhak Committee Tral Awantipora took initiative and started Yatra again besides cleaning the springs and restoring the land with the support of district administration and local people.
The residents of the area also welcomed the pilgrims today and offered all cooperation. A Maha Yagya was also performed at the shrine.