SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday flagged off the annual Harmukh-Gangbal Yatra from Naranag in Kangan, marking the start of the pilgrimage to Gangbal Lake in the Harmukh mountain range.
Member of Parliament Mian Altaf Ahmad and Kangan MLA Mehar Ali, besides senior police and civil administration officials, attended the flag-off ceremony.
The yatra commenced under security arrangements put in place by the administration and security agencies for devotees travelling through the mountainous terrain to the high-altitude lake.
Situated at the foothills of Mount Harmukh, Gangbal Lake is visited every year by Kashmiri Pandits and other devotees. The pilgrimage traditionally begins at Naranag, from where devotees undertake a trek through the higher reaches of the Harmukh range.
The three-day pilgrimage covers around 15 kilometres of mountainous terrain. Devotees traditionally assemble at the Naranag temple for Charri Puja before beginning the trek towards Gangbal Lake.
With Sinha flagging off the yatra, devotees set out from Naranag on Friday for the annual pilgrimage to the sacred lake.
