Undeterred by calamity of Uttarakhand that killed hundreds of devotees, thousands of lord
Shiva devotees from across the country are set to prove that no calamity can
shake their faith in god by joining the toughest yatra to 17,000 feet high
Shrikhand Mahadev from July 15.
Shiva devotees from across the country are set to prove that no calamity can
shake their faith in god by joining the toughest yatra to 17,000 feet high
Shrikhand Mahadev from July 15.
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| Shrikhand MahadevLingam |
Given the increasing number of pilgrims to Shrikhand yatra, district administration and
organizing committee of yatra are going to hold a meeting to chalk out the plan
for safety, security and convenience of expected thousands of people on Tuesday.
The pilgrimage to Shrikhand Mahadev starts from Rampur (Shimla) and Nirmand
(Kullu) and is one of the toughest yatras of the world. Unlike the ice-lingam
of Amarnath, the miraculous 72 feet tall Shiva lingam of Shrikhand, which has
cracks in it, is famous for not allowing snow to accumulate on it despite 30 to
40 feet high snow in its surroundings.
organizing committee of yatra are going to hold a meeting to chalk out the plan
for safety, security and convenience of expected thousands of people on Tuesday.
The pilgrimage to Shrikhand Mahadev starts from Rampur (Shimla) and Nirmand
(Kullu) and is one of the toughest yatras of the world. Unlike the ice-lingam
of Amarnath, the miraculous 72 feet tall Shiva lingam of Shrikhand, which has
cracks in it, is famous for not allowing snow to accumulate on it despite 30 to
40 feet high snow in its surroundings.
According to members
of Shrikhand Seva Mandal, number of pilgrims is going to increase by many
numbers as they are getting thousands of phone calls from across the country. “Most
of the phone calls are from devotees who could not visit dhams in Uttarakhand.
And now they want to get virtue of Shiva from this yatra. Most of the pilgrims
are from Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal, besides Himachal Pradesh,” president of Shrikhand Seva Mandal, Govind Sharma, said.
of Shrikhand Seva Mandal, number of pilgrims is going to increase by many
numbers as they are getting thousands of phone calls from across the country. “Most
of the phone calls are from devotees who could not visit dhams in Uttarakhand.
And now they want to get virtue of Shiva from this yatra. Most of the pilgrims
are from Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal, besides Himachal Pradesh,” president of Shrikhand Seva Mandal, Govind Sharma, said.
Shrikhand yatra
continues for one month from July 15 in the month of Shravan. Devotees can
reach up to Jaon village of Nirmand by road and then starts about 35km-long on
foot one side yatra. The both side yatra generally takes four days.
Administration is busy in repairing the Rampur-Jaon road and arranging for
parking facilities to accommodate hundreds of vehicles. For safety reasons, all
the pilgrims joining yatra shall have to get themselves registered with police
before starting and after completion of the yatra.
continues for one month from July 15 in the month of Shravan. Devotees can
reach up to Jaon village of Nirmand by road and then starts about 35km-long on
foot one side yatra. The both side yatra generally takes four days.
Administration is busy in repairing the Rampur-Jaon road and arranging for
parking facilities to accommodate hundreds of vehicles. For safety reasons, all
the pilgrims joining yatra shall have to get themselves registered with police
before starting and after completion of the yatra.
Anni
sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Neeraj Gupta said they have a plan to deploy police
personnel all along the route with medical services for the convenience of
pilgrims. “I’ve demanded two MBBS for Shinghad and Bhim Dwar camps. Four police
camps would be installed and oxygen cylinders, stretchers, emergency lights and
other necessary equipments have also been ordered. Officials from forest,
revenue, I&PH and other departments along with relief and rescue teams would
be available in the camps,” Gupta said over phone.
sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Neeraj Gupta said they have a plan to deploy police
personnel all along the route with medical services for the convenience of
pilgrims. “I’ve demanded two MBBS for Shinghad and Bhim Dwar camps. Four police
camps would be installed and oxygen cylinders, stretchers, emergency lights and
other necessary equipments have also been ordered. Officials from forest,
revenue, I&PH and other departments along with relief and rescue teams would
be available in the camps,” Gupta said over phone.
All departments
and organizations will hold a meeting on July 9 and shall take stock of the
preparations. Before starting yatra, a preliminary team of specialists would
visit Shrikhand and check all safety points. Most of the pilgrims join yatra in
first 10 days and according to Govind Sharma, 18,765 pilgrims had a darshan of Shrikhand Mahadev lingam in 10 days last year. “Langars are being organized at various
places since 1995 and our mandal is providing devotes with free tent service to
spend night. Also, hundreds of other people provide tent service at many places
for nominal charges. Shrikhand is gaining popularity as it is one of the five
Kailashes on the earth,” he said.
and organizations will hold a meeting on July 9 and shall take stock of the
preparations. Before starting yatra, a preliminary team of specialists would
visit Shrikhand and check all safety points. Most of the pilgrims join yatra in
first 10 days and according to Govind Sharma, 18,765 pilgrims had a darshan of Shrikhand Mahadev lingam in 10 days last year. “Langars are being organized at various
places since 1995 and our mandal is providing devotes with free tent service to
spend night. Also, hundreds of other people provide tent service at many places
for nominal charges. Shrikhand is gaining popularity as it is one of the five
Kailashes on the earth,” he said.
HOW TO REACH SHRIKHAND MAHADEV:
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| Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra |
Devotees can reach up to Jaon village by road which is 170km from Shimla and 200km from
Kullu. Singhad is base camp of the yatra which is approachable by 3km trek from
Jaon. Next camp is at Thachru after 9km on foot yatra from Singhad. Then Bhim Dwar is 10km above Thachru and further beyond this place is Parvati Bagh at
distance of 4km. Both these places are the preferred last camping sites
before going for darshan of Shiva lingam. Mostly devotees return back to Bhim
Dwar after visiting Shrikhand.
Kullu. Singhad is base camp of the yatra which is approachable by 3km trek from
Jaon. Next camp is at Thachru after 9km on foot yatra from Singhad. Then Bhim Dwar is 10km above Thachru and further beyond this place is Parvati Bagh at
distance of 4km. Both these places are the preferred last camping sites
before going for darshan of Shiva lingam. Mostly devotees return back to Bhim
Dwar after visiting Shrikhand.
SOME FACTS ABOUT SHRIKHAND MAHADEV:
– Shrikhand Mahadev lingam is 72 feet high
– It is believed
that snow on lingam melts immediately, however its surrounding remains covered
with snow round the year
that snow on lingam melts immediately, however its surrounding remains covered
with snow round the year
– Shrikhand is the
toughest pilgrimage of the country
toughest pilgrimage of the country
– Yatra starts at
6,000 feet above the mean sea level and ends at 17,000 feet
6,000 feet above the mean sea level and ends at 17,000 feet
– Over 50,000
pilgrims are expected to visit Shrikhand in one month
pilgrims are expected to visit Shrikhand in one month
– Registration is
mandatory before starting yatra
mandatory before starting yatra
– Lingam is broken
(khandit), so it is known as Shrikhand
(khandit), so it is known as Shrikhand
– The yatra
generaly results in body-ache due to tough geographical conditions, and it is
believed that person gets rid of his ego and wrong deeds after suffering this
pain
generaly results in body-ache due to tough geographical conditions, and it is
believed that person gets rid of his ego and wrong deeds after suffering this
pain
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