Last Updated on November 26, 2021 at 1:15 pm
Even though the minimum temperatures have dropped below the freezing point across the Kashmir valley but pilgrims from all over India taking a holy dip at ‘Sangam’ to celebrate the Pushkar festival at Shadipora in the Ganderbal district.
Shadipora is considered holy by the pilgrims as it is located at the confluence of the Jhelum River and Sindh stream.
Celebrations for Pushkar festival have started at Shadipora and mostly pilgrims from South India have converged at Shadipora. The festival is being held after a gap of many years in Kashmir.
Devotees usually pray for the dead at Shadipora and also immerse the ashes of the deceased at the merging of the Jhelum and Sindh. Pilgrims are allowed to take a dip in the river till 3 pm. Besides praying for the dead, devotees believe that taking a dip at the confluence of the Jhelum and Sindh has several health benefits.
Pushkar Committee of Kashmir (PCK) president Bharat Raina said that Pushkar is celebrated every year at different places like Haridwar,etc of the country wherever there is a ‘Sangam’ of rivers. Raina further added that in Kashmir, it was last celebrated in 2009 when around 35,000 devotees had attended and now it is being held after 12 years yet again in Kashmir.
As well the state health department has taken all the safety measures and made all the arrangements keeping in view the Covid-19 protocol.
A health department official said that Covid tests have been done of all devotees and safety measures have been taken.
