POONCH, Aug 12: Chanting “Bum Bum Bhole” with great enthusiasm, more than 380 pilgrims set out from a base camp in Jammu on Monday to visit the revered shrine of Budha Amarnath in Poonch district, officials reported.
The sixth batch of 382 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp at 5:15 AM in a convoy of 10 vehicles, escorted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police. This group included 283 men, 90 women, and nine children, who traveled in eight buses and two light motor vehicles (LMVs), filled with the spirited chants of “Bum Bum Bhole,” “Har Har Mahadev,” and “Jai Shri Ram.”
The yatra, which commenced on August 7, is scheduled to conclude on August 20. The Budha Amarnath Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is located in Rajpura village within the Mandi tehsil of Poonch and is one of the oldest shrines in the Jammu region. Each year, it attracts a significant number of devotees during this pilgrimage.
The yatra culminates with the arrival of the ‘Charri Mubarak’ (holy mace) at the shrine from Dashnami Akhara, Poonch. Pilgrims often take a ritual bath in the sacred Pulsata River that flows near the temple before entering the shrine, signifying purification.
Thousands of devotees undertake this yatra annually to pay their respects at this renowned shrine of Lord Shiva, reaffirming their faith and devotion.
