POONCH: The Annual Chari Mubarak Yatra, led by Acharya Shri Shri 1008 Mahamandleshwar Swami Vishavatmanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj, commenced on Saturday from the Dashnami Akhara Mandir complex in Poonch and proceeded to the Shri Budha Amarnath Ji Shrine at Rajpura, Mandi.
The yatra began after a special Puja and Havan ceremony at the Akhara Mandir, attended by Swami Vishavatmanand Saraswati Ji Maharaj and other prominent religious personalities.
Following the Puja and Hawan, Swami Ji addressed a grand religious congregation, which was attended by prominent members of the civil society from different communities. The gathering showcased the region's traditional communal harmony, brotherhood, and peace.
The ancient Shri Budha Amarnath Shrine, situated in the Himalayas, is believed to be the place where Rishi Pulatsya, the grandfather of King Ravana of Lanka, had worshipped for many decades. The Pulast River, which flows from the Loran-Mandi mountains of the Pir Panjal (Himalayas) to Poonch and PoK, is named after this great saint.
Along the route from Poonch to Mandi, various food stalls were set up by different societies and local residents to cater to the devotees. The Chari Mubarak will remain in the temple for two days and will be brought back on the next day of Raksha Bandhan. The devotees, who came from all over the country, expressed joy and appreciation for the yatra, citing the region's exemplary communal harmony.
