Devotees converge at Banderwah in Kashmir for "serpent worship"

Doda (Jammu and Kashmir), Apr 18 (ANI): Thousand's of devotees are visiting the Subar Nag (serpentine divinity) temple at Bhaderwah in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir, as part of an annual pilgrimage.

Since thousands of years, people here celebrate the Nag festival with fervour and gaiety.

The Nag festival is considered to be very sacred and auspicious by the locals. Tourists come here from across the country to witness the festival.

"The Yatra (pilgrimage) has been going on for over thousands of years. People are so devoted that whenever any calamity affects this area, right from Rajputs, Brahmins, Dalits (socially ackward community) and even the Muslims undertake this pilgrimage since they have immense faith in it," says Bodh Raj, a devotee.

Even though the temple is atop a hill, the enthusiasm of the devotees is not deterred in any manner. It is widely believed that the desires of the devotees are fulfilled by the Nag (serpent) Lord.

"I have been staying in Gujarat, but I have specially come here to participate in this Yatra (pilgrimage). It is a very old temple. The prayers and wishes of the devotees are fulfilled, and many people have come here from other states as well," said Omesh Sharma, a devotee from Gujarat.

Once their wishes are fulfilled, the devotees come back to pay homage. By Tahir Nadim Khan (ANI)