Bhaderwah, Apr 14 : On Thursday, thousands of devotees from across the valley trekked 12 km to reach the ancient Subar-Nag temple located at a height of 12,000 feet in Jammu and Kashmir’s Bhaderwah district. The occasion marked the celebration of Baisakhi, which signifies the beginning of spring. The festival at this temple is considered the first Baisakhi in the country, while other parts of the country celebrate the festival tomorrow.
The doors of the 1,600-year-old temple were opened early in the morning, and traditional celebrations began with the sacrificing of rams. Dozens of sheep were sacrificed in accordance with the ancient custom. The festival holds not only religious importance but also cultural significance for the region. Locals demanded that the ancient spring festival be brought under the pilgrimage tourism circuit.
The head priest, Anil Kumar Raina, stated that devotees from different parts of the valley arrive with the holy mace to seek the blessings of Lord Subhar Nag. Moreover, the festival has all the necessary elements to attract devotees and tourists from across the globe. However, the Bhaderwah Development Authority and tourism department have done nothing concrete so far to project it as a pilgrimage destination.
The festival rejuvenates the people after the harsh climatic conditions and snow that lasted for four months. The festival not only gives them a chance to meet their relatives and friends, but it also fulfills their wishes from Lord Subhar Nag. The Superintendent of Police, Bhaderwah, Kameshwar Puri, ensured that elaborate security arrangements were made to facilitate the smooth conduct of the festival. A total of 15,000 devotees, including 9,500 women, visited the ancient temple, and authorities deployed men and kiosks to collect plastic waste and keep the high altitude meadow clean.
