Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra taken out

A large range of individuals participated in an exceedingly grand ‘Shri Jagannathji Rath Yatra’ taken out within the recent town here nowadays. The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), organized this initial ever "Shri Jaganath Rath Yatra" within the town of temples nowadays.Hundreds of devotees, dancing on the tune of song "Hare Krishna, Hare Krishna Krishna Krishna Hare Hare, Hare Ram Hare Ram Ram Ram Hare Hare" and rhythm of drum beats, attracted everyone’s sight. an outsized range of girls and kids conjointly accompanied the yatra.The "Rath Yatra" commenced from town Palace, Kachi Chawni, and it responded to Parade Ground, Shalamar, Kanak Mandi, Rajinder Bazaar, Shaheedi Chowk, Raghunath Mandir, Indra Chowk, Gumat, Vinayak Bazaar, Dogra Chowk, Jewel, Canal Head, Guest House, Gole Pulli, Bohri and culminated at KK Resort, Udheywala Bohri.Hundreds of individuals from the roof prime of their homes and on the road were seen waiting to possess the glimpse of tableaux of Lord Jaganathji, his brother Baldev and sister Subhadra, moving on a fantastically adorned chariot.Chairman, J&K Legislative Council, Amrit Malhotra, was the Chief Guest whereas Madan Lal Sharma and Choudhary Lal Singh, each Members of Parliament, were the Guests of Honour.The Rath Yatra pageant of chariots originates in Puri, Orrisa and it's the oldest known pageant and has been celebrated for over thousands of years.The founder Acharya of ISKCON, C Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, introduced the ‘Rath Yatra’ pageant through out the planet. Among others gift were Vikram Malhotra, president Rath Yatra Committee, Jai Keshav Dass, organizing president, SC Bali, president Reception Committee, HG Sarvbhaum Bhattacharya Dass, General Manager, ISKCON Jammu, Surinder Peshin and Sanjeev, pageant coordinators and Rohit Bali, general secretary.

SASB clarifies report on duration of yatra

Gangbal Yatra 2011

35 Piligrims leave for historic Gangbal Yatra

A delegation of about 35 pandits on Sunday morning left for ancient Harmukh-Gangbal to the sacred lake here from picturesque village of Naranag in Kangan Tehsil of district Ganderbal.

Notably, it was after a gap of about 100 years that the yatra to Harmukh-Gangbal was restarted only a couple of years back in 2009.

On June 4, 2009, a batch of some 22 pilgrims visited the holy lake at Gangbal on a three-day traditional
yatra.

“The government, in 2009, in an effort to restore and revive the historic religious places for the cultural
and religious preservation started the yatra bringing lots of euphoria on the faces of Kashmiri Pandits here,” a Kashmiri Pandit who is the part of the yatra to Gangbal told Kashmir Times.

Situated at an altitude of 12,000 feet, the pilgrims will visit Harmukh Gangbal shrine and will leave back on 7th of this month. District administration Ganderbal in association with district police and army have made all the necessary arrangements for the convenience of the Yatries.

For this historic three-day yatra, Superintendent of Police Ganderbal, Shahid Mehraj Rather is supervising and has made all the necessary arrangements for the pilgrims. The yatra was flagged off by him.
“We have ensured all the necessary (security) arrangements for the convenience of the Yatries. Police and Army components have been put in place”

Army organises Konser Naag Yatra

Pir Panjal Range and the mountainous area falling within the Jurisdiction of Rajouri and Poonch districts is dotted with several exotic lakes of which Konser Naag is one. Konser Naag lake is considered to be holy by many people. With the beginning of the month of 'Shravan' Konser Naag Yatra for the current year commenced from July 19 and the Yatra culminated with the return of pilgrims on July 21. Indian Army for the welfare of the locals of insurgency affected areas of J&K arranged a pilgrimage to Konsar Naag lake in the higher reaches of Pir Panjal belt.

A total of 155 civilians including 137 males, 16 females and 2 children participated in the Yatra. The Yatra by road passed through Chasana, Mamankote and Ichni. The responsibility of security of the devotees was given to Rashtriya Rifle battalion at Samote under aegis of Counter Insurgency Force (Uniform). The battalion deployed more than 100 Army personnel. Besides Army, Police was also involved in the security of the Yatra. DySP Reasi inspected the site to inspect the security arrangements. Protection parties were deployed at various locations of Lungatung, Mamankote, Ichni, Malikot and Katgali by the Army.

A medical team was also provided for medical cover to the pilgrims. The pilgrims expressed their gratitude towards Army for providing them the medical facility and security arrangements enroute. 

SASB Niyas meeting over yatra

The meeting between the Chief Executive Officer Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) R K Goyal and representatives of the Baba Amarnath and Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas (BABAYN) to reach a settlement on the yatra date to holy cave ended into a dead lock as both sides stuck to their respective stands.

Today's meeting was a follow up of the meeting held by the office bearers of Niyas with Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr Pawan Kotwal on June 4.

According to insiders in the meeting Mr Goyal maintained that the yatra could not be taken before the June 29 the date fixed by the Board as the preparations have not been made and the tracks from both Pahalgam and Baltal sides would not be ready for trekking of pilgrims by then.

However the members of the Niyas were adamant to take the yatra on Jesht Purnima falling on June 15 as per tradition. They accused the Board of starting the work on clearance of track late and this will delay in snow clearance.

The members of the Niyas showed their total adamancy in flagging off the first batch of yatra from Jammu on June 14 to have the darshan on June 15.

Besides Mr Goyal the Divisional Commissioner, Dr Pawan Kotwal and IGP Jammu, Dilbagh Singh were also present in the meeting while the representatives of the Niyas included Dinishwar Singh, Dr V K Gupta, Karan Singh Charak, Shakti Dutt Sharma and Rajesh Gupta.

Two lakh pilgrims registered for Shri Amarnath yatra

In connection with Shri Amaranth Ji Yatra, a high level review meeting was held here today under the chairmanship of Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr.Asgar Samoon. Principal Secretary to Governor, R.K Goel was also present in the meeting.

The meeting was informed that so far two lakh pilgrims have registered themselves at various branches of J&K Bank across the country. It was also told in the meeting that the Yatra will commence from June 29,2011.

During the meeting various issues related to smooth functioning of Amaranth Ji Yatra, registration of pack and riding ponies, establishment of Langars, supply of power and drinking water, availability of medicare, tele communication, essential commodities, sanitation ,opening of ATMs,hire charges of collies and dandiwalls were discussed threadbare.

The meeting was told that 4000 quintals of firewood would be kept available by the Forest Department at various halting stations while temporary medical license would be provided for setting up temporary medical shops.The meeting further told that fair price shops would also be set up by the CAPD and Cooperative Society.

Meanwhile, the Principal Secretary said that Helicopter service would be pressed into service to facilitate the pilgrims from Pahalgam to Panjtarni,for which Rs.3450 has been fixed as fair charges while during the last year it was Rs.3800. He directed Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag who is also Yatra Officer to keep a strict vigil on the rates fixed on all the halting stations particularly at Panjtarni.

Mr. Goel asked the Director Animal Husbandry to start registration process of the ponies immediately and ensure fitness of ponies. The meeting was told that last year 7445 horses were registered and this year it is expected to touch more than 8000.

Meanwhile, Mr. Goel said that the Shrine Board has also made arrangements in place for making Pahalgam town polythene and garbage free. It was stated in the meeting that Urban Local Bodies has deployed 300 labourers from Sarbal to Pahalgam to ensure cleanliness.

The meeting was attended by Col J.Nair(RR) Col DD S Paul, Deputy Commissioner, Anantnag, Kifayat Hussain Rizvi,DIG, Traffic, Vijay Kumar, SSP,Anantnag, Chief Engineers of Power and PHE,Director Animal Husbandry, Director CAPD,Deputy Drug Controller and representatives of BSNL,Forest,Information, Urban Local Bodies, Labour, J&K Bank and other concerned officers.