Jammu, April 14 -- The revered shrine of Shree Machail Mata in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district has been reopened for pilgrims after winter, heralding the commencement of the annual Yatra season, officials said on Monday.
The temple was thrown open on the occasion of Baisakhi on Sunday with Jammu divisional commissioner Ramesh Kumar reviewing the arrangements for the annual pilgrimage, the officials said.
The event marked the shifting of the idol of Goddess Machail Mata (Durga) from the house of local priest Pehalwan Singh to the temple amid religious rituals and a grand fair.
The reopening of the temple was also attended by BJP MLA from Padder-Nagseni Sunil Sharma and Kishtwar deputy commissioner Rajesh Kumar Shavan, the officials ...