Kishtwar: The annual Shree Machail Mata Yatra scheduled to begin on Sunday this year has been cancelled.
Only the traditional rituals/Holy Chari & regular Pooja shall be performed following Covid-19 Appropriate Behaviour, said Kishtwar District Magistrate Ashok Kumar Sharma.
The decision has been taken in view of the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic and apprehension of Third Wave, he said in an order issued on Sunday.
Machail Mata is a Goddess Durga shrine popularly known as Machail Mata located in village Machail, from where it derives its name, in Kishtwar District of Jammu region. It may be noted that Goddess Durga is also known by the name Kaali or Chandi.
The temple history is entwined with the conquests of Zorawar Singh Kahluria, who in 1834 sought blessings of Machail mata, before crossing the mountains and Suru River (Indus), with 5000 men for vanquishing an army of local Botis of Ladakh. He became a faithful devotee after the successful mission.
