Annual Buddha Amarnath yatra to begin on August 8

Our Correspondent

Poonch, July 5

Preparations are afoot for the annual pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Buddha Amarnath in Rajpure mandi of Poonch district which will begin from August 8 this year.

“The annual Buddha Amarnath yatra will commence from August 8 from Jammu. The first batch of pilgrims will leave for Poonch on August 9,” said Neeraj Doneria, All India In Charge of the yatra.

“The last batch will perform the darshan on August 16 whereas the culmination function will be organised on August 15 which coincides with Independence Day celebrations,” said Doneria.

He said, “This time the yatra is going to beat all old records. Even pilgrims from Andaman and Nicobar are going to take part in the yatra. The yatra will have one-day stay at Sundarbani on its return from the Buddha Amarnath shrine,” Neeraj said.

“Chhari Mubarak”, the holy mace of Lord Shiva, will be taken from Shree Dashami Akhara Mandir, Poonch, towards the shrine in Mandi tehsil on August 16,” said Basant Ram Sharma, president Dashnami Akhara, Poonch.

Convening a meeting of various religious organisations, including VHP, Bajrang Dal, Dashnami Akhara, Buddha Amarnath committee and others, Neeraj reviewed arrangements for the forthcoming yatra.

Though the annual yatra has not yet started, thousands of pilgrims have paid obeisance to Shri Buddha Amarnath with many of them flocking on Monday on Somavati Amavsaya.