Imran shah
Kishtwar,DD, A grand Mata ka jagrata was organised by registered Sharda Mata Jagran and Development Trust Anjole at Sharda Mata Mandir Sharada Nagar Anjole on the eve of Jayestha Ashtami as per past practice as the day coincides with the celebration of Kheer Bhavani mela at Jayeshtha Raganaya Mata temple,Tulmul Srinagar. Sharda Mata temple is an ancient revered Hindu temple located at Sharda Nagar in village Anjole of Kishtwar District of UT of Jammu & Kashmir. This temple holds religious, cultural, and spiritual significance among all devotees.
Sharda Mata temple is around 650-700 years old temple dedicated to Goddess Sharda, who is believed to be the Goddess of wisdom, learning, and knowledge.
A huge gathering of nearly 3000 people both from District Kishtwar and outside participated in the religious grand annual jagrata with pomp and religious spirituality. The focus of attraction with regard to singing of bhajans was famous singer celebrity Naveen Punjabi who is not only singer but composer and lyricist as well . Naveen Punjabi enthralled the audience with his devotional songs. Other singers who also enriched the atmosphere with flames of spirituality and devotional songs include Krishan Lal, Ajay Deva, Sunil Biba, Ravi Deep, Mamta Shan, Puran Manhas, Aadhshree, Arohi and Karishma all of whom also enthralled the audience with their mesmerizing performance of bhajans and songs.
The grand religious event started with Havan followed by Purnahoti , Kud, folk dance and distribution of prasad / food among all devotees.
For the residents of Anjole and nearby villages, the Sharda Mata Mandir is not only a place of worship but also a focal point of the community. The first time the Jagran started in the year 2004 was by the local people of villager Anjole. Despite facing numerous odds the people of the area continued to organise the Jagrata each year on the occasion of Jayestha Ashtami with full enthusiam and high spirits. Now , the said Jagrata has turned into a big religious event in which thousands of people including those outside the district and UT participate in the Jagrata and take blessings of divine mother Mata Sharda Mata and also get blessed with its many miracles. The wishes of many devotees have been filled by Goddess Sharda and with each passing year the congregation of people increases manifold during the religious yatras and festival.
The said place was first known as Chitran but after the construction of Sharda Mata temple and with the inception of Sharda Mata Mandir Jagran and Development trust and the devotion of its members towards holy deity the said place is now popularly known as Sharda Nagar. For the last three years the grand religious event is being organised under the total supervision of Deepak Sharma President, Sharda Mata Jagran and Development Trust, Anjole, as well as Sanjay Sharma and other revered members of trust. Swami Raj Sharma is chief priest of the temple who has been performing all religious rituals for more than three decades. Roopesh Sharma , Block Development Officer, Block Trigam who is a true devotee of Mata Sharda has written a small booklet under the title “Pahariyun ki Chaavn mein —- Mata Sharda” depicting about the origin of a revered Mata Sharda temple and it’s miracles ” for giving wide publicity regarding the ancient and historical temple of Mata Sharda situated at Sharda Nagar and the same book was released on the grand occasion in presence of dignified members at the Jagran.
He also compered the whole proceedings of the said grand religious event of Jagrata. The said Jagrata was attended by many dignitaries and spiritual gurus including Mahant Ram Saran Dass ji Maharaj , Pardeep Singh , ASP Kishtwar, Dr Rajinder Kumar , CMO Kishtwar, Vijay Bhagat SDPO, Marwah /DYSP DAR Kishtwar , Dr Anil Sharma BMO Kishtwar, SI Rahul Sharma I/c Police Post Thakraie, Sanjeev Parihar, Vice President Sarthal Devi Trust and Chairman, SRCO, Kishtwar, Brij Mohan Sharma, Ashish Sharma, Hans Raj Bhutyal, Kishori Lal Shan, Ved Parkash Gupta, Prithvi Raj Raina, Captain Jagdish, among others.
District and police administration have made adequate arrangements like deployment of security, fire and emergency service, first aid, uninterrupted power and water supply etc.DD