Divine trek: Manimahesh Yatra begins amid fervour

The fortnight-long pilgrimage to the glacier-fed Manimahesh Lake in Bharmour subdivision of Chamba district began on Saturday with great religious fervour and amid chants of “Har Har Mahadev”.

The sacred journey, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is held at an altitude of 4,085 metres and traditionally begins on Janmashtami, the festival marking the birth of Lord Krishna. It will conclude on Radha Ashtami, which falls on August 31.

Every year, thousands of devotees trek to the oval-shaped lake to offer prayers and catch a glimpse of Mt Kailash, regarded as the abode of Lord Shiva. Starting from Hadsar in Chamba district at about 1,829 metres, the 14-km uphill trek is considered as challenging as the Amarnath Yatra.

For those unable to make the climb, two private heli-taxi operators have been permitted to operate flights between Bharmour and Gaurikund near the lake. This year, two aviation companies are also providing heli-taxi services between Holi and Gaurikund.

Bharmour Additional District Magistrate Kulbir Singh Rana, who is the chairman of Manimahesh Temple Trust and oversees the yatra, said the entire trek route from Hadsar has been repaired ahead of the yatra. Despite the official commencement, thousands of devotees had already undertaken the pilgrimage earlier.

This year, special focus has been laid on maintaining cleanliness along the pilgrimage route. The district administration, in coordination with voluntary organisations, has deployed sanitation workers and volunteers to ensure proper waste collection and disposal. A deposit refund scheme has also been introduced, where devotees are required to deposit a nominal amount before beginning the yatra, which is refunded when they return the waste collected during the journey at designated collection points.

To ensure the safety of pilgrims and maintain law and order, more than 800 personnel from police and home guards have been deployed along the route. Checkposts have been set up at key points, and rescue teams are on alert to respond to any emergency.

According to popular belief, the snow-clad Mount Kailash is visible only when Lord Shiva is pleased with the devotees. If the peak remains shrouded in clouds, it is taken as a sign of the Lord's displeasure.