LG Sinha flags off Harmukh–Gangbal pilgrimage, urges pilgrims to protect area’s ecology

SRINAGAR, SEPTEMBER 18: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday flagged off the Harmukh–Gangbal pilgrimage at Ganderbal, describing the annual yatra as a living expression of faith, spiritual unity and the region’s enduring cultural heritage.

Sinha said the pilgrimage connects Jammu & Kashmir’s spiritual traditions with contemporary concerns, particularly the need to protect the Himalayan environment amid climate change and growing ecological challenges.

“This sacred Yatra embodies purity, devotion, and unity in diversity. It is a living expression of eternal faith, strengthens our soul, connects us with nature, and inspires harmony,” the Lieutenant Governor said.

Referring to the historical and religious significance of the pilgrimage, Sinha said Jammu & Kashmir has for millennia been nourished by an “unbroken stream of faith”, with its spiritual heritage also documented by Kalhana in the Rajatarangini.

Quoting the Nilamata Purana, he said Mount Harmukh, also known as Harmukut, is revered as the abode of Lord Shiva, while Gangbal Lake, situated at an altitude of around 14,500 feet, is regarded as the sacred presence of Mother Ganga.

He said devotees had maintained their spiritual connection with the pilgrimage site despite difficult terrain and historical upheavals. The site is also associated with paying homage to ancestors and is regarded as comparable in sanctity to Haridwar.

The Lieutenant Governor said Himalayan pilgrimages impart humility before nature and encourage people to embrace noble and constructive thoughts, thereby contributing to social harmony.

“I firmly believe that the Harmukh–Gangbal pilgrimage is a living expression of this immortal faith. On the pilgrimage, no one is superior or inferior. All are seekers of truth, united in spirituality. This is the strength of our eternal culture,” he said.

Sinha urged pilgrims to make protection of nature an integral part of their spiritual journey.

“I often say that Himalayan pilgrimages teach us two important lessons. First, I am not the master of nature but its custodian. Second, noble and beneficial thoughts should come to us from all directions so that we may make society more prosperous,” he said.

He said pilgrimage provides strength and self-confidence while simultaneously bringing people closer to nature.

“During the journey, we realise that nature is our heritage and that we have a responsibility towards it,” he said, adding that the Harmukh–Gangbal pilgrimage also provides an opportunity to convey to younger generations that the region’s cultural heritage represents not only the consciousness of the present but also a direction for the future.

The Lieutenant Governor said spiritual journeys such as Harmukh–Gangbal strengthen the “nation’s soul and collective consciousness” and have historically served as a force for social harmony.

He also referred to the ongoing Seva Sankalp Abhiyan, dedicated to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 25 years of continuous public service, and appealed to citizens and the Harmukh Ganga Gangbal Trust to participate in activities including cleanliness drives, blood donation camps, health camps, tree plantation and youth programmes.

“May the snow-clad peaks of Harmukh inspire us to cultivate lofty thoughts, and may the blessings and compassion of Lord Shiva remain with all the pilgrims,” Sinha said.

Member of Parliament Mian Altaf Ahmad, MLA Kangan Mian Mehar Ali, Principal Secretary to the Lieutenant Governor Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Harmukh Ganga Gangbal Trust founder chairman and general secretary Vinod Pandita, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, IGP Kashmir Sujit Kumar, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Jatin Kishore, Trust president Anil Bhat, religious heads, senior civil and police officials, security personnel, prominent citizens and devotees attended the flag-off ceremony.