MACHAIL YATRA -- Manmahash Yatra --- Kailash Yatra --- Mela Pat

MACHAIL YATRA

In the month of August a "Chhari" religious procession of "Chandi Mata" starts from Chinote Bhadarwah to Machail Paddar. In which thousand upon thousands of people participate. 

Subar Nag and Nagni Malas. On 12th April a grand Mala is held at Sabar Dhar in honour of Sabar Nag in which thousands of Bhadarwahis pay obeisance and on the next day i.e. 13th of April on Ist Basakhi again a very grand Mala of "Nagni Mata" is held at Manthla where thousand of people all around Bhaderwah pay obeisance, sing Bakti songs and dance in order to please Mata for their good crops and health. 

In short people of Bhaderwah are very God fearing and offer prayers in their houses and where ever there is a sign of any diety in the Jungles, caves, mountains etc. over and above the worship of above mentioned deities, Lord Shiva’s worship has great importance. 

Machail Yatra:
The route of the Yatra is Baderwah-Pul Doda-Thatri-Machail. The Yatra started as a family tradition by Thakurs in 1980s has become a major Yatra in the District. The Yatra culminates in Chandi Mata ki Mandir in Machail.

On 1st July the Yatra with around 2000-3000 people come to Baderwah and for 1 month and 18 days Trishul stays in Baderwah. Then Machail Yatra starts towards Chandi Mata Mandir. Buses come from Jammu on 16 August (around 16 buses) about 40,000 people participate in the Yatra. People in the region attracted to Chandi Mata.

People from all communities participate and Trishuls by Jains. Temple facility created by the Yatra organizers has halls for all communities and even for different sects in Hindu Community.

Manmahash Yatra

Every year twice "Manmahash Yatra" starts from Bhaderwah and ends at Manmahash in Himachal Pardesh. This is a highly revered yatra and takes at least 25 days because devotees have to tried the whole journey on foot. 

These yatras mostly come in the month of August. At home in order to get the blessing of Lord Shiva, people perform ya/na in the form of Piyala, Bagni, Chanehk, Khadha etc. . 

Mani Mahesh Yatra:

This yatra starts from Baderwah with Chari and goes to Mani Mahesh. The Yatra goes in the month of August. In 2006 the Yatra will start on August 7.

This Yatra precedes Kailash Yatra. Around 10000 people participate in the Yatra. Mani Mahesh Yatra comes back after 7 days. The yatra starts with fanfare including the play of trumpets, Baja

As already said that Naga rulers ruled this valley for a pretty long time so Naga cult immensely effected the Bhaderwahi culture and civilization. People erected their temples on different names such as Vaski Nag temples at Gatha, Nagar, Nalthi, Bheja, Subar Nag temple at Subhar Dhar Mahal Nag in Bhalasa etc. etc. 

Kailash Yatra: 

This Yatra follows Mani Mahesh Yatra and starts with Chari from Gatha in Baderwah and then goes to Vasu ki Nag, Ramtund where it stays for the night and then to Kailash. The Yatra takes place in August and ends on the Kailash Kund. It takes 2 hours to cover the periphery of the Kund. Legend has that Ramtund is a mythological places. Legend has that 7 headed snake is seen in Kund. Another Chari reaches

The Kailash Kund from Billawer on the same day when the Baderwah Chari reached the Kund. People from Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur come to join Yatra. After one month the same Chari goes to Asha Pathi and reaches there on the day of Amawas. On this occasion there is Dako folk dance for full nights and people from other communities also participate in these functions.

Mela Pat: This Mela in the name of Vas goes on for 15 days. 

Every Nag diety has its own "Yatra" but Kailash yatra and Ashapati Yatra are very famous.