Stories
Ancient Shadu Yatra Begins in Jammu and Kashmir
- •The annual Shadu yatra, the final pilgrimage in the ancient Nag trilogy, commenced in Bhaderwah with hundreds of devotees.
- •The holy mace procession, known as Charri Mubarak or Son-bain Yatra, started at the Brokodu temple and headed toward the Ashapati Glacier.
- •Pilgrims will halt at Bumlakhi village before reaching Sonbain to perform traditional religious rituals.
- •The centuries-old tradition celebrates Bhaderwah's ancient Nag culture and the practice of serpent worship.
- •Devotees perform Pind Daan rituals during the pilgrimage for departed ancestors whom they could not honor at Gaya.
Key Questions Answered
The annual Shadu yatra is the final pilgrimage in the trilogy of ancient Nag yatras that celebrates the valley's ancient Nag culture and the practice of serpent worship. It begins with a holy mace procession from the Brokodu temple toward the Ashapati Glacier at around 11,300 feet.
Devotees perform Pind Daan, a ritual offering for departed souls, during the Ashapati Yatra for those who cannot visit Gaya or are unsure of the exact date of their ancestors' deaths. The pilgrimage celebrates the centuries-old tradition of the land of snakes, known locally as Nagon Ki Bhoomi.
The Charri Mubarak procession begins at the ancient Brokodu temple in Bhaderwah's Vasak Dera locality and heads toward the Ashapati Glacier. The holy mace halts for the night at Bumlakhi village in the foothills before returning to Bhaderwah after performing rituals on the third day.
