Sudh Mahadev Mela to be cancelled amid lockdown restrictions

Our Correspondent

Udhampur, June 2

The J&K Dharmarth Trust has decided to cancel the forthcoming Sudh Mahadev Mela, which was scheduled to commence from June 8 this year, amid the coronavirus outbreak.

In a statement issued here on Tuesday, Mubarak Singh, president of the Trust, informed that the annual Sudh Mahadev Mela would not take place this year due to the lockdown restrictions enforced by the government in view of Covid-19 pandemic. He informed that the Centre had relaxed the restrictions, but the J&K Government had decided that the restrictions would continue till June 8.

Adhering strictly to the restrictions imposed by the government to break the chain of Covid transmission, the Trust had decided not to hold Sudh Mahadev Mela this year. “The Trust is cooperating and strictly following public safety and health guidelines, including orders issued by government related to the coronavirus outbreak,” he added.

Singh further informed that the traditional “puja” and “aarti” would be performed by priests inside the temple premises. The video will be uploaded on social media from the temple premise so that devotees can have “darshan” from home.

Sudh Mahadev Mela is a three-day religious gathering. The mela is held at Sudh Mahadev on the full moon night of “sawan” (June) to worship Lord Shiva. The mela witnesses heavy rush of devotees every year at Sudh Mahadev, Gouri Kund and Mantalai. The Shiva temple is located at a distance of 50 km from the Udhampur headquarters.

Legend has it that after bathing at a spring called Gouri Kund, just short of Sudh Mahadev, Goddess Parvati worshiped the Shivling here that is believed to be at least 3,000 years old. The temple also houses a black marble statue of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati.