GANDERBAL, SEPT 18: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday flagged off the auspicious Harmukh–Gangbal Yatra in Ganderbal, describing the pilgrimage as a living expression of the region’s timeless faith, spiritual traditions and cultural heritage.
Addressing the gathering, the Lieutenant Governor said Jammu and Kashmir has for millennia been nourished by an unbroken stream of faith, with its landscape deeply connected to spirituality and pilgrimage. Referring to Kalhana’s Rajatarangini, he said the historical and spiritual significance of the region has been recorded through the ages.
Quoting the Nilamata Purana, Sinha said Mount Harmukh, also known as Harmukut, is revered as the abode of Lord Shiva, while Gangbal Lake, situated at an altitude of around 14,500 feet, is regarded as the sacred presence of Mother Ganga.
He noted that despite the challenging terrain and historical upheavals, devotees have preserved their spiritual connection with Harmukh–Gangbal. The pilgrimage, he said, also carries significance for performing ancestral rites and paying homage to forefathers, with its sanctity traditionally compared to that of Haridwar.
The Lieutenant Governor said Himalayan pilgrimages offer profound lessons in humility and respect for nature while encouraging people to cultivate noble thoughts and contribute towards social harmony.
“I firmly believe that the Harmukh–Gangbal pilgrimage is a living expression of this immortal faith. On the pilgrimage, no one is superior or inferior. All are seekers of truth, united in spirituality. This is the strength of our eternal culture,” he said.
Emphasising the environmental responsibility associated with such spiritual journeys, Sinha urged pilgrims to take a pledge to protect the fragile Himalayan ecosystem, particularly in view of climate change and growing environmental challenges.
He said pilgrimages bring people closer to nature and reinforce the understanding that natural resources are a shared heritage that must be protected for future generations.
“I often say that Himalayan pilgrimages teach us two important lessons. First, I am not the master of nature but its custodian. Second, noble and beneficial thoughts should come to us from all directions so that we may make society more prosperous,” the Lieutenant Governor said.
He further observed that pilgrimage has historically served as an important force for social harmony by bringing people together beyond distinctions of status and background.
Referring to the ongoing Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of continuous public service, Sinha called upon citizens and the Harmukh Ganga Gangbal Trust to participate actively in public welfare initiatives, including cleanliness campaigns, blood donation drives, health camps, tree plantation programmes and youth-oriented activities.
Concluding his address, the Lieutenant Governor expressed hope that the snow-clad peaks of Harmukh would inspire devotees to cultivate lofty thoughts and that the blessings and compassion of Lord Shiva would remain with all pilgrims undertaking the sacred journey.
MP Mian Altaf Ahmad, MLA Kangan Mian Mehar Ali, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Founder Chairman and General Secretary of the Harmukh Ganga Gangbal Trust Vinod Pandita, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, IGP Kashmir Sujit Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Jatin Kishore, office-bearers and members of the Trust, religious heads, senior civil and police officers and a large number of devotees attended the flag-off ceremony.
