The Chamba district administration has suspended the Manimahesh Yatra till August 25 in view of the safety of pilgrims and damage caused to the pilgrimage route due to heavy rainfall.
Deputy Commissioner Mukesh Repaswal said repair work was under way on the route near Tos Ke Goth, where the track was damaged following heavy rain. The decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of devotees travelling to the holy Manimahesh Lake.
Although the official Manimahesh Yatra is scheduled to commence on September 4 on the occasion of Janmashtami, pilgrims from different states traditionally begin undertaking the pilgrimage through various routes well before the official start. The yatra will formally conclude on September 19, coinciding with Radhashtami.
Repaswal said the pilgrimage would resume from August 26, subject to favourable weather conditions and restoration of the damaged stretches. He appealed to pilgrims to avoid the route during the suspension period and strictly follow the directions issued by the administration.
The administration has already put in place a series of security measures for the official pilgrimage period. As part of the arrangements, movement of pilgrims will be restricted at night. From Mehla onwards, pilgrim movement will remain restricted between 11 pm and 4 am, while movement from Hadsar to the holy Manimahesh Dal will be prohibited between 7 pm and 4 am.
To regulate the rush and ensure the safety of pilgrims, only 5,000 devotees will be permitted to undertake the yatra each day during the official pilgrimage period. Pilgrims coming from outside Himachal Pradesh are also prohibited from undertaking the Manimahesh parikrama trek via Kugti without prior permission from the district administration.
The administration may increase the daily limit on the opening and closing days, depending on the situation and arrangements.
The Deputy Commissioner said the administration was continuously monitoring weather conditions and the status of the pilgrimage routes. Concerned departments have been directed to keep a close watch on vulnerable stretches and ensure necessary safety arrangements.
Repaswal appealed to devotees to cooperate with the administration and give priority to their own safety while undertaking the pilgrimage. He said the administration’s foremost concern was to ensure a safe and orderly Manimahesh pilgrimage amid the challenging weather conditions.
The Manimahesh Yatra is one of Himachal Pradesh’s most revered pilgrimages and is held annually in August/September. The pilgrimage is dedicated to Lord Shiva and culminates at the glacier-fed Manimahesh Lake, situated at an altitude of around 13,000 feet beneath the Manimahesh Kailash peak.
Devotees traditionally undertake the arduous trek from Hadsar through Dhancho and Gauri Kund to reach the holy lake, where they take a ritual bath and offer prayers. The pilgrimage attracts thousands of devotees from Himachal Pradesh and neighbouring states.
