Rampur: Annual Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra will start from July 14

Rampur: Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra, one of the toughest and challenging pilgrimages in the country, will run from July 14 to 27. The dates of the yatra were finalised in the meeting of Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra Trust held at Panchayat Samiti Hall, Nirmand under the chairmanship of Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra Trust Chairperson and Kullu Deputy Commissioner Toru S Ravish. The DC discussed the yatra in detail with departmental officials, members of the yatra trust and tent traders of Chail and Juagi panchayats. It was unanimously decided that the yatra will officially run from July 14 to July 27, with the last batch of devotees leaving on July 27. The holy stick of Mata Ambika, which sets out on the Shrikhand Mahadev pilgrimage every year from Dashnami Juna Akhara of Nirmand, will leave Nirmand on July 18 and return to Dashnami Juna Akhara of Nirmand on July 24. The administration and the yatra trust have started preparations for the yatra. Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra Trust chairman and Kullu DC announced that the yatra will be divided into five sectors. These sectors are: Base Camp Singh Gad, Base Camp Thachdu, Kunsha, Bhim Dwar and the final base camp Parvati Bagh, where administrative facilities will be set up. Sector magistrates and police officers will be appointed at these base camps. Medical staff and rescue teams will also be deployed at these camps. For the first time, SDRF rescue unit will be deployed at the last base camp Parvati Bagh. Online registration portal will be set up soon for devotees from other states. The meeting was attended by Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra Trust Vice President and Nirmand SDM Manmohan Singh, Ani DSP Chandrashekhar Kaith, Nirmand Tehsildar Jai Gopal Sharma, Nirmand Naib Tehsildar and Yatra Trust member Buddhi Singh Thakur.