Pilgrimage in Jammu & Kashmir
Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra
- Vaishno Devi Mandir is one of the holiest Hindu temples dedicated to Shakti, located in the hill of Vaishno Devi, Jammu and Kashmir, India. In Hinduism, Vaishno Devi, also known as Mata Rani and Vaishnavi, is a manifestation of the Mother Goddess.Katra Town, lying in the foot of Trikuta Mountains, 48 kms. from Jammu, serves as the base camp for visiting the famous shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi, which is approachable on foot along a 13 kms long well laid footpath. The famous shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi is located in Jammu. Every year, more than 4.5 million pilgrims pass through Katra on their way to the holy shrine. The cave shrine of Mata Vasihnodeviji or Trikuta Bhagwati at the height of 5,200 feet has been a beacon of faith and fulfillment to millions of devotees from all over the world. The pilgrimage to the Shrine holds great significance for the pilgrims.
Shri Amarnath Yatra
- During the Amarnath Yatra, in the month of Shravan (July - August), the devotees visit this incredible shrine, where the image of Shiva, in the form of a lingam, is formed naturally of an ice - stalagmite, and which waxes and wanes with the moon. By its side are, fascinatingly, two more ice - lingams, that of Parvati and of their son, Ganesha.
Situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of Lidder valley, Amarnathji stands at 3,888 m and is 45 km from Pahalgam and 141 km from Srinagar. Though the original pilgrimage subscribes that the yatra be undertaken from Srinagar, the more common practice is to begin the journey from Pahalgam, and cover the distance to Amarnathji and back in four or five days. Pahalgam is 96 km from Srinagar. One of the holy trinity, Shiva is a living god. The most ancient and sacred book of India, the Rig Veda evokes his presence in its hymns. Vedic myths, ritual and even astronomy testify to his existence from the dawn of time. Legend has it that Shiva recounted to Parvati the secret of creation in the Amarnathji cave .
- The Haj is incumbent upon all adult Muslims of sound mind with the necessary physical capacity and financial capability. The Haj Section of the Consulate General of India functions as a nodal agency in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to facilitate the pilgrimage of more than 157,000 Indian citizens annually.
Haj House Srinagar - There are approximately 35 verses in the Holy Quran which dwell directly on the Haj as one of the pillars of Islam and its rites and rituals. In 1426H (2006AD) as we prepare to perform the 1418th Islamic Haj, we ought to remember that during the course of 23 years of the revelation of the Holy Quran, including these verses on the Haj, the Prophet (pbuh) of Islam had at no time availed himself of the major pilgrimage of Haj.
Shahdra Sharief - The shrine of Shahdra-Sharief in Rajouri district, 177 kms from Jammu, is one of the most popular Muslim shrines of Jammu region, visited by thousand of devotees every day. Built in the 19th century on a beautiful hillock in Thanna Mandi area and situated about 29 kms from Rajouri town, the Shahdra Sharief has great historical significance in the context of the origin of the State of Jammu and Kashmir. According to historical sources, in 1820 AD, Maharaja Ranjit Singh of Punjab sent his army general Gulab Singh to defeat an adversary.