Jammu: The deputy inspector general of police, Udhampur-Reasi Range, visited Kailash Kund and reviewed the arrangements during the annual Kailash Kund Yatra, which concluded on Friday with around 75,000 devotees taking a holy dip in the sacred lake, officials said.
The three-day annual pilgrimage concluded in the Bhaderwah belt of Jammu and Kashmir’s Doda district with the holy mace of Lord Vasuki Nag returning to the 2,200-year-old Vasuki Nag temple at Gatha.
Despite difficult terrain and harsh weather conditions at an altitude of around 14,700 feet, around 75,000 devotees took a holy dip in the icy waters of Kailash Kund during the final two days of the pilgrimage, officials said.
During his visit, DIG Shiv Kumar, who trekked tough terrain to reach Kailash Kund, met the pilgrims, officers and police personnel deployed along the yatra route and took stock of the security and other arrangements.
The Kailash Kund Yatra is among the toughest pilgrimages in the region, covering the challenging terrain of Dudu, Gharkatiyas, Ranmatha, Seojdhar and Kailash Kund.
The event also promotes tourism in the remote areas of Latti, Dudu, and Seojdhar, where locals eagerly anticipate the pilgrimage each year. This year, the yatra witnessed a significant increase in the number of devotees, officials noted.
Beginning on September 8, the pilgrimage attracted participants and Chharis from Bhaderwah, Kathua, Udhampur, and other parts of the country.
Devotees prayed for the safety and well-being of Bhaderwah, protection from natural calamities and peace and prosperity for humanity.
DIG Shiv Kumar commended the dedication and commitment of the police personnel assigned to the pilgrimage, stating, “Our Jammu and Kashmir Police jawans and officers performed their duty with great dedication and devotion, despite tough terrain and adverse climatic conditions, for the successful culmination of this event.”
He also interacted with the personnel and reviewed their deployment and arrangements along the difficult stretches of the pilgrimage route.
