Kishtwar : The revered Annual Yatra of Ashtadash Bhuja Mata Sarthal Devi commenced Thursday in Kishtwar, marking the beginning of a joyous and spiritually significant event.
The yatra began with a grand Hawan ceremony held at Gori Shankar Mandir, Sarkoot, where devotees fervently offered Aahuti and Puran Aahuti (sacred oblations).
Accompanied by an impressive Shoba Yatra, the Chari Mubarak (holy procession) proceeded through Chowgan Ground, Shaheedi Chowk, and the Bus Stand, starting from Gori Shankar Mandir.
Thousands of devotees, including men, women, and children, enthusiastically chanted religious slogans and bhajans, while traditional “Paddari Dance” to drum beats resonated along the procession route.
Local communities from various neighborhoods extended a warm welcome to the Holy Chari.
At the Bus Stand, devotees boarded buses and other vehicles to make their way to the historic Sarthal Devi Temple in Kishtwar.
A grand Jagran (night-long devotional singing) is going to be organized Thursday at the Sarthal Devi Mata Bhawan, adding to the spiritual fervor of the yatra.
Tomorrow morning, on 04 July, a Maha Yajna (grand religious ritual) will be performed at Sarthal Devi Mandir.
The district administration and police have made meticulous arrangements for security, drinking water, power supply, transportation, and other essential facilities at Kishtwar and Sarthal to ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for the devotees.
Sarthal Devi Ji is revered as the “Kul Devi” (patron goddess) of the region.
The historic yatra has been organized every year since the Dogra regime, and each devotee holds a deep and unique faith in this sacred pilgrimage.
The yatra is annually organized by Sarthal Devi Trust, under the patronage of Dr. Karan Singh, the sole trustee and Vikramaditya Singh, Chairman Trustee of the Trust.
Pooja Thakur, Chairperson of the District Development Council (DDC) Kishtwar; MLA Kishtwar, Shagun Parihar; Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma; prominent socio-religious personalities of Kishtwar; key officers from the civil and police administration; Arvind Parihar, President of Santan Dharma Sabha and Sanjeev Parihar, Vice Chairman of Sarthal Devi Trust, among others were present on the occasion.
