Registration fee hike for langar at Manimahesh opposed

NURPUR, JULY 6

Organisers of langars for Manimahesh pilgrims have protested the decision of the district administration and the Manimahesh Trust, Bharmour, to impose the security registration fee of Rs 20 per pilgrim and enhance the registration fee for langar from Rs 12,000 to Rs 15,000.

The Manimahesh Langar Seva Dal, Jawali (Kangra), and its affiliated organisations, at a meeting last evening asked the government to withdraw it.

Manjeet Kaundal, president of the seva dal, said the social organisations organised langars and provided free medical aid to the pilgrims at Hadsar, Danchhoh, Gourikund and Shivkund en route the Manimahesh pilgrimage.

Such cess was unwarranted as these had been organising langars without getting any aid from the district administration or the Manimahesh Trust. He appealed to the state government to intervene.

Lalit Sharma, Nardev Singh, Vijay Kumar and Dr Navneet Sharma said the pilgrimage had not been held for the past two years due to the Covid infection and now the administration and the temple trust were charging Rs 20 from the pilgrims on the pretext of security registration fee would discourage them.

The pilgrimage will commence on August 19 on Shri Krishna Janmashtami and conclude on September 2 on Radhashtami.