Religious fervor, gaiety marks Amavasya festival celebration at Purmandal, Uttarbehni

SAMBA, July 17: Amavasya festival was today celebrated with religious fervour at Purmandal/Uttarbehni in the District Samba.

Nearly 1 lakh devotees thronged the twin shrines of Purmandal and Utterbehni to pay obeisance and joined the festivities which began on Monday morning.

Deputy Commissioner, Abhishek Sharma also participated in Devika Pujan  along with devotees, PRI members, officers from the district and police administration, besides, children from Sanskrit Ved Vidyalaya.

Purmandal ‘Chota Kashi’, is a place of immense religious significance for Hindus from times immemorial. It is an important pilgrimage center situated at a distance of 40 km from Jammu City, on the banks of the river Devika. The Devika is prominently known as the Gupt Ganga which bifurcate this highly sacred town into two equal parts. The Devika is known to have originated during the last phase of the Dwapar period.

The UT Government and local administration and all concerned departments and agencies had made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims in coordination with the management of the Dharmarth Trust.

The locals complimented the Government and Deputy Commissioner Samba and his team for making satisfactory arrangements at the site. They also exuded confidence that such activities would increase the footprint of tourists at the holy site of Purmandal/Uttarbehni. 

Speaking on the occasion, the Deputy Commissioner complimented the locals for their support in making the celebrations a grand success. He emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage and passing it down to future generations. He stated that the District Administration will leave no stone unturned to preserve and promote the rich culture of the region.