Virbhadra takes auto to visit Jwalamukhi temple

Ashok Raina

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Kangra, April 14

Former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh today travelled by an auto rickshaw to reach the Jwalamukhi temple to pay obeisance before deity on the last day of the Navratris.

Virbhadra Singh had arrived in the Jwalamukhi temple town last night. He, accompanied by HPCC general secretary Kewal Singh Pathania and former Jwalamukhi MLA Sanjay Rattan, went to pay his obeisance to the Goddess. As the temple witnessed heavy rush of pilgrims, the main road from the Matour-Shimla highway up to the temple gate was closed to the traffic for all nine days of the Navratris.

SDPO Tilak Raj said all VVIPs were given an alternative Devi Talab route via old bazaar. The same route was provided to former Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh to reach the temple.

According to reports, Virbhadra Singh covered last more than 100 m distance to reach the temple in an auto rickshaw. Virbhadra was all smiles while travelling by a most common mode of transport to reach the temple.

Pathania said the former CM enjoyed the ride.

Jagdish Chand Sharma, temple officer, said on the ninth day, 35,000 pilgrims visited the shrine. Despite elections, nearly two lakh pilgrims visited the shrine during the Navratris. He said the devotees made Rs 65 lakh as offerings in the temple during the period.

The pilgrims visited Bajjreshwari temple at Kangra and Chamunda Devi temples.