Poonch, August 24: The Shri Budha Amarnath Temple, a revered and ancient shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva, is witnessing an unprecedented influx of devotees this Shravan month in Poonch district, Jammu and Kashmir. Thousands of pilgrims from both local and outside states are arriving daily to pay their respects at the self-manifested Shiva Lingam. In response to the overwhelming crowd, the temple administration has extended the visiting hours to ensure that devotees can worship without inconvenience.
Anish Misri, the General Secretary of the temple committee, along with Chief Priest Pandit Arun Kumar Sharma, noted the significant increase in visitors this year. Previously, the temple opened at 5 AM for the morning Aarti, allowing entry afterward. However, due to the large turnout, the temple now opens at 3 AM for Aarti, with devotees allowed entry by 4 AM.
Pandit Arun Sharma stated, “As you know, the Budha Amarnath Yatra begins every year during the month of Sawan, and this year is no exception. The temple remains open year-round, allowing devotees to visit Lord Shiva at any time.”
He added that after the evening Aarti at 7 PM, devotees can continue their worship until midnight. This adjustment ensures that no devotee leaves without having the opportunity to pay their respects.
Anish Misri also mentioned that on Monday, the sixth batch from the Vishva Hindu Parishad visited the temple. Many locals are also flocking to Shri Budha Amarnath Temple, with over two thousand devotees visiting on Sunday alone. Today, thousands more have come to seek blessings.
He highlighted that the temple also provides a continuous community kitchen, or ‘langar,’ operating around the clock. The temple remains open from 3 AM until midnight for worship.
Due to the extended hours, devotees can be seen dancing and singing bhajans late into the night, celebrating their faith in the temple courtyard.
Leave a Comment