Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU Aug 3: Highlighting the crucial need of conserving and preserving the ancient shrines for smooth pilgrimage of devout public and promotion of pilgrim tourism, National Conference Provincial President Devender Singh Rana today supported the demand for taking up of the management of Sukrala Devi, the most famous shrine dedicated to mother goddess, in Billawar Tehsil of the Kathua district by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.
“In fact, the last Legislative Assembly of the Jammu and Kashmir State had constituted a House Committee for the purpose, which, interallia, had also favourably considered the plea about the taking up of the affairs of the revered shrine by the SMVDSB”, Rana said while interacting with a delegation of the area, which called on him here this afternoon.
He hoped the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairperson of the SMVDSB, will take a considerate view over the popular demand of the people in general and the locals of the area in particular and instruct for initiating necessary process in this regard. This will go a long way in creating infrastructural facilities for the devotees, who throng in large numbers from all over the Jammu region and the neighbouring states for seeking spiritual bliss. He said the holy shrine at a hillock amid sylvan surroundings has been the destination for pilgrims from times immemorial and its upkeep with thrust on raising infrastructural facilities assumes all the more significance.
Rana said the Jammu division has potential of emerging as a premier pilgrim centre of North India and steps are required to be taken in optimal harnessing of the spiritual treasure. This will give immense fillip to Jammu economy like the famous shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi on Trikuta Hills, he added.
The delegation wished the SMVDSB to take a view on the long pending demand of the locals and take over the management of the shrine for its upkeep. They said that the holy shrine is the abode of goddess Mal Devi, the re-incarnation of Sharda Devi. The goddess has manifested herself here in the shape of a Shilla (Stone Slab) seated on a Brass Lion with a silver mounted head. Behind it is also an image of Mahishasur Murdini (re-incarnation of Maha-Lakshmi) standing on the body of Mahishasur, the Demon King. The Goddess is four Armed with a sword in one of her hands. Many legends are associated with the Shrine.
The delegation was led by Pandit Tript Shastri and others.
Earlier Pandit Tript Shastri also presented a book -Shri Mal Mata Sukrala Devi Ji Ka Ethihas Aur Pooja Vidhi to Mr Rana.
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