Minister of State for Finance and Information Technology, Pawan Gupta flagged off one-day Annual Pingla Mata Cave Shrine Pilgrimage along with Charri Mubarak here today.The yatra was organized by Adi Shakti Sewak Sanstha, Pingla Mata Udhampur. The Adi Shakti Sewak Sanstha, Udhampur took the sacred Akhand Joyti which was lit on July 15, 2015 along with Trident to Cave Shrine in the morning with traditional fervor and gaiety.While assuring full cooperation for the successful culmination of Yatra, Mr. Gupta lauded the efforts of Sanstha for organizing pilgrimage which would help to promote the shrine as a pilgrim tourism spot. Mr. Gupta said that government is committed to develop prominent pilgrimage sites to attract huge number of devotees which would not only give fillip to tourism potential of the district but also boost the economy of the area.
A large number of devotees from different areas of state paid obeisance at the sacred Shrine and sought the blessings of Maa Bhagwati, situated on a hill top at village Pinger in tehsil Ramnagar of district Udhampur. Lot of enthusiasm and high spirits were visible on the faces of devotees who constantly chanting hymns in praise of Pingla Mata.According to President Adi Shakti Sewak Sanstha, Udhampur, Ashok Gupta, the Akhand Jyoti was accompanied by over 15,000 devotees. He said that a free bus service was also arranged for the devotees from Udhampur to Village Kawua the base camp of the cave shrine. Besides, a free langar was also organised at the shrine and enroute. Among others, Sapranch Panchayat Pinger, Mr. Mulkh Raj, Chairman Baba Puran Nath Ji and other office bearers of the Sanstha and large number of devotee participated in the annual event.