Manimahesh yatra

Current Context :The Bharmour administration has decided to allow only registered pilgrims to trek to the sacred glacier-fed Manimahesh Lake.

SIGNIFICANCE OF MANIMAHESH LAKE:

• It is also known as Chamba Kailash.
• The lake is situated in the Bharmour subdivision of Chamba district at an altitude of 13,000 feet at the foot of the Kailash peak (18,564 ft).
• Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati take a bath in this lake during this time. The fair starts on Janamastmi and ends on Radhastami.
• Fair is held at this lake on the eighth day of the light half of the moon in the month of Bhadon (August–September).
• Lord Shiva is the presiding deity of this fair / jatra.
• At one corner of the Manimahesh lake is a marble image of Shiva which is worshipped by the pilgrims.
• After bathing in the holy waters, the pilgrims go around the circumference of the lake three times.
• About one and half kilometers short of Manimahesh lake fall two religiously important water bodies called Gauri Kund and Shiva Krotri where as per popular belief Gauri and Shiva bathe respectively.
• The women pilgrims do take holy dip in Gauri Kund
• The men pilgrims take holy dip in Shiva Krotri before proceeding to Manimahesh lake.