Buddha Amarnath Yatra to commence from August 15

Jammu , May 18 (UNI) The eleventh-day long holy will commence from August 15 or 16 this year.

Bajrang Dal National President Prakash Sharma visited militancy-infested areas of Poonch and Rajouri and met local Hindus population, while talking to UNI said around 15 thousand devotees would participate in the festival this year.

Mr Sharma said some committees have been settg up at Jammu, Rajouri, Sunderbani, Surankote, Poonch and Mandi towns for the smooth conduct of Yatra which will work in coordination with Baba Buda Amarnath Yatra Samiti, Mandi Poonch, he added.

''The Yatra will help in restoring the confidence of the minorities living in far flung and militancy infested areas of Poonch and Rajouri districts where people from minority community have been feeling very unsafe particularly after removal of armed force from border areas under pressure of some political parties,'' he said.

He also demanded the pilgrims from Hindu community be given permission to take the pilgrimage of Devi Kali, which is 45 kms away from Poonch and Sharda Peeth Temple in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

Situated twenty five kms northeast of Poonch town near Mandi, Buddha Amarnath Temple is an ancient Shiva temple located at the confluence of two gushing streams the Nallah Gagri and the Pulstaya Nallah. Pulsatya Nallah is also known as Loran Nallah.

''These two streams make this place more enchanting and present a panorama to the eyes. What is unique about this Shiva Temple is that it is located on the foot hill and not on the hill top and has a Shivling of white stone which is not self-made,'' Dr Ramakant Dubey, Jammu and Kashmir president of Vishwa Hindu Parishad told UNI.

He said Hindus believe that Ravan's grand father Pulasta Rishi performed his tapasya at Buddha Amarnath and had a darshan of Lord Shiva. The devotees from far off places come to pay their obeisance to Lord Shiva in this holy temple.

''Buddha Amarnath and Amarnath cave in Kashmir are considered to be equally holy and sacred by the devotees. Few people even say that the pilgrimage to Amarnath cave in Kashmir remains incomplete without a visit to this shrine,'' he added.

This shrine is older than of Amarnath and before division, people used to visit this shrine from PoK and thousands of people visit the shrine every year on Raksha Bandhan and Shivratri, he said adding that it is believed that Lord Shiva fulfill wishes of everyone who makes a pilgrimage to Buddha Amarnath.

UNI