Chhari Mubarak reaches Mandi shrine
Shariq Majeed
Tribune News Service

Rajouri, August 3
The Chhari Mubarak (holy mace) of Baba Buddha Amarnath got a warm welcome on the concluding day of the week-long yatra at the main shrine in Mandi today. What made it special this year was that Muslims from the militancy-hit Mandi town of Poonchdistrict exhibited a show of communal harmony and showered flowers on the procession taking the Chhari.

The Muslims had also set up stalls offering sweetened water and other eatables for the pilgrims, who came from all over the country. “It is good to see lakhs of pilgrims coming here. We request the government to develop this backward area so that the pilgrims don’t face any problem,” said Begum Jan (70) from Mandi town.

Shamim Ahmed Ganai, president of the Beopar Mandal, Mandi, said a majority of businessmen were Muslims and they had set up stalls offering sweetened water and eatables. He said, “It was really great that the people of Mandi exhibited communal harmony by welcoming and showering flowers on the Charri Mubarak.”

One of the priests at Baba Buddha Amarnath Ji Mandir in Mandi said, “The main function of the week-long pilgrimage is held on Raksha Bandhan, when the Chhari Mubarak procession starts from Akhara Mandir in Poonch and heads to Mandi. Thousands of devotees and sadhus normally accompany the procession, which leads towards Swami Budha Amarnath Ji Mandir in Mandi, on foot.” He said, “The procession reaches Rajpura the same day in the afternoon. The Chhari Mubarak is than taken to the main shrine amid rituals followed by the aarti of Lord Shiva,” he added.

Paramjeet Singh, convener of the arrangement committee, that looks after board and lodging and other facilities at Poonch and Mandi, told The Tribune that around one lakh pilgrims from the state and outside attended the yatra.