Rains Disrupt Shrikhand Yatra – 2014

Rains Disrupt Shrikhand Yatra – 2014 

Belying the forecast of a weak monsoon season, heavy rains  took a toll of the Shrikhand Mahadev Yatra – 2014 as the Kullu administration decided to suspend it for the year.

The decision to suspend the tough pilgrimage ascending to over 18,500 feet was taken after death of five pilgrims was reported.

With the weather conditions deteriorating, landslides occurring on the route fear unforeseen danger of melting glaciers causing calamities, the administration was forced to call of the pilgrimage.

The 32 Km route has been blocked at several places by landslides and avalanches. The peak and its surroundings have received unusual snow for this time of the year.

It has been raining continuously for days, which has caused a drastic drop in the temperature. The yatra was officially scheduled from 16^th July to 25^th July.

The Shrikhand Mahadev yatra is considered to be one of the toughest pilgrimages in North India. The broken or khandit lingam of Lord Shiva is located at an altitude of 18,500 feet.

Every year the government issues public notices, that only the physically fit and those accustomed to tough terrains should embark on this journey. Already five people have died this year due to extreme cold and low oxygen levels.

The decision to suspend the yatra was taken on 19^th July, after the successful completion of a massive rescue operation to save 400 trapped pilgrims.

Mr. Rakesh Kanwar, deputy commissioner, Kullu, stated that the yatra had become too risky.

He said that his rescue teams had reported that there were many points on the route that could pose life threatening danger to the pilgrims.

So bad was the condition this year that people organizing langars and camping facilities have also closed shop.

The government has forewarned that all individuals who choose to undertake the journey will do so at their own responsibility, and the administration will not be held responsible in case of a mishap.

 

Celebrate Shivaratri 2014 on 27th February, Thursday

Shivaratri is celebrated on the 6th night of the dark Phalgun (Feb or March) every year. On the auspicious day, devotees observe fast and keep vigil all night. Maharashtra marks the night when Lord Shiva performed the 'Tandava'. It is also believed that on this day Lord Shiva was married to Parvati  Ma. On this day Shiva devotees observe fast and offer fruits, flowers and bel leaves on Shiva Linga.

Singhad River

Jai Bhole Nath !! Sabhi bhakat jano ko suchit kiya jata hai ki har bar ki trah is saal bhi yatra 15th july se shuru ho gayi hai, aur abhi tak yatra track aur base camps bholenath ki kripa se bilkul theek hai.

ShriKhand Mahadev view Of Kali Ghati..

ShriKhand Mahadev view Of Kali Ghati

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Pandu Lipi (believed to be written by Pandavas) on d way to Shrikhand Mahadev Pandu Lipi (believed to be written by Pandavas) on d way to Shrikhand Mahadev

Pandu Lipi (b

Pandu Lipi (Believed to be written by Pandavas) on d  way to Shrikhand Mahadev.

panelieved to be written by Pandavas) on d way to Shrikhand Mahadev

How to do this trek

Getting to/from: Can be attempted for Nirmand in Kullu district, Fancha in Shimla District or from Banjar. Toughest route is from Fancha side. Most popular and safest is Nirmand, Bagipul, Jaun, Taacharu, Nainser.

Guides and Porters: Guides and Porters can be hired from Nirmand of Baagi pul if required. .

Total Distance: 32-35 Kms one side. Maximum Elevation: 5162 meter – Shrikhand Peak.

Permits: No need of any kind of permits. .

Top @ shrikhandMahadev

 TOP @ ShriKhandMahadev

Folklore about the Shrikhand trek:

Folklore about the Shrikhand trek:

According to the folklore there used to be a demon named Bhasmasur. He worshipped lord Shiva for many years. By seeing his dedication lord Shiva was so happy that he asked Bhasmasur to ask for anything. Bhasmasur asked for the power of burning any creature just by placing his hand on the head of the creature. Lord Shiva blessed him with the asked power. Bhasmasur became so proud of his power that he tried to burn lord Shiva. Then lord Shiva had to hide in a cave near Nirmand at Deo Dhank as a mosquito.This is place that  Lord Shiva from that place were Srikand above.

Lord Vishnu came to save lord Shiva from the demon. Vishnu incarnated himself as Mohini a beautiful lady. She (Vishnu) asked the demon Bhasmasur to dance with her. Bhasmasur was so much mesmerised with the beauty of Mohini that he could not resist himself from dancing with Mohini. Mohini cleverly got Bhasmasur to place his hand on his  head and Bhasmasur turned into ashes. Just after Bhasmasur burned all the God’s reached Deo Dhank to look  up lord Shiva. They found Lord Shiva detained under the web in the cave. It was very difficult to release lord Shiva from there. So Lord Shiva used a secret route and emerged as Shakti Roop at Shrikhand Mountain from cave at Dev Dhank.

When lord Shiva was getting out from Shrikhand Mountain, there were a great blast and only the present Shrikhand Shivling remains.

 On the way to Shrikhand top you can find out big boulders that look like as the part of any big mountain. At Shrikhand there is main peak (Shivlinga) dedicated to lord Shiva.

 Just opposite to it another big stones are known as Godess Parvati and Lord Ganesh. Just behind the Shrikhand peak there is a peak known as Kartikeya Parvat.

shrikhand mahadev

Parvati Baag

 

This was perhaps the very long and tiring day. I woke up at 4:00AM and asked karan ,Gaurav , Angad about his conditions. He was positive and we were ready to move to Shrikhand in no time. but angad was not well and he decide i am  not come .We left our tent at 4:15AM in the dark. Lots of devotees were on the way, we even saw the torch lights on crawling on the peak.Me and my friend karan he not comfortable on glacier.my friend  karan falls on the glacier and  he asked i am not  comfortable so plz you should go there.he was far from me 300 meter.   but suddenly i fall  400 meter down n from glacier.  its realy bad moments for us.but  we were  stay 1 hour on that place. after we were decide to go on the top @ SHRIKHADNMHADEV.      We reached Nain Sarover at 6:30AM.That was the mesmerizing moment on my life. The weather was chilled and wind made things worse for us. We saw many people taking bath in Nain Sarover. This small pond contains the melted water of surrounding peaks. This is the last possible halt where you can find drinking water.

Description : shrikhandmahadev

Description :

 It is believed there are total seven Kailash mountains. The well known Mansarovar Kailash in Tibet, Adi Kailash in Pithoragarh district of Uttrakhand, Amarnath Kailash in J&K, Kinner Kailash in Kinnaur district of Himachal Pradesh, Mani Mahesh Kailash in Chamba District of Himachal Pradesh,Sri Khand Kailash in Shimla district of Himachal Pradesh. Seventh one is believed to be Boorha Kailash and is yet to be located.

Shrikhand Mountain or the Srikhand Mahadev peak in Himachal Pradesh resembles the Shivling. Numerous Lord Shiva devotees undertake the difficult trek to the mountain during the main pilgrimage season (July – August). Atop the mountain there is a small shrine of Lord Shiva. This pilgrimage is surely not for the weak because at times a trekker needs all the skills of an expert mountaineer.

It is usually undertaken to coincide with the Ashada Poornima (full moon day in June or July) as per the Hindu Vikram calendar. It continues till the Purnima of Ashwani month (full moon day of September or October).

shrikhandmahadev

Top @ shrikhandmahadev

shrikhandmahadev

Beem-dwar.