Kolkandoli temple to get an inn

Kolkandoli temple to get an inn
Archit Watts
Tribune News Service

Kolkandoli, May 16
Devotees coming from across the country to pay obeisance at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine will soon get accommodation facilities at the historic Kolkandoli temple, as the temple administration is constructing an inn to facilitate them.

The Kolkandoli temple, said to be built by the Pandavas, is about 15 km from Jammu having much religious importance. Paying obeisance at the temple is considered the first darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi. Pilgrims of Mata Vaishno Devi first pay obeisance here and then head for Katra to start the 12-km pilgrimage to reach the holy cave shrine.

So far this small village situated near Nagrota town neither have a hotel nor any inn, thus forcing the pilgrims to have a night halt at Jammu or Katra. “The temple administration is constructing an inn at the temple complex, which will accommodate nearly 1,000 devotees. Two halls will be built in the inn,” said Jai Pujari of the Kolkandoli temple.

He said the work on the temple had started and the devotees were giving huge donations for the construction of the inn. Jai Pujari added that, “Being the first place to pay obeisance to Mata Vaishno Devi, the Kolkandoli temple attracts a large number of devotees. Keeping this in mind the state government has also promised to make a beautiful sprawling lawn and install swings for children here.”

The temple administration said Tourism Minister Nawang Ringzin Jora and Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation Raman Bhalla visited the temple recently and assured it that the beautification work on the temple would be started soon.

With this much-awaited decision of the temple administration and the state government, the devotees were also seen overjoyed, as within a short time they would have the accommodation for night stay at the temple.

“This temple is famous throughout the country and a large number of people come here to pay obeisance to the Goddess. So the construction of an inn will surely provide benefit to the devotees, who, otherwise, have no option for stay here,” said Dheeraj Kumar, a resident of Ambala in Haryana, who had come to pay obeisance at the temple along with his family.

He added that, “We come every year to have darshan of Mata Vaishno Devi and always pay obeisance here too, before heading for the cave shrine. When the project is complete, the temple will also attract more pilgrims”.An under-construction inn at the historic Kolkandoli Temple en route the Jammu-Katra highway. Photo by writer

Candidates offer chilled water to lure voters

Candidates offer chilled water to lure voters
Archit Watts/TNS

Galwaday Chak, May 16
The candidates in the fray for the posts of panch and sarpanch in the Jammu region have found a new way of attracting voters by providing free chilled water, especially when the temperature is hovering around 42°C.

As the election authority has put a blanket ban on the sale and consumption of liquor before 24 hours of the polling time, the candidates are now offering chilled water to attract voters.

During a visit to various polling stations in the Marh block of Jammu district today, the candidates and their supporters were seen offering chilled water to the voters standing in queues to convince them to vote for particular candidates.

As unscheduled power cuts have become common, especially in villages, the supply of chilled water is proving to be a boon for the voters. Some voters were also seen carrying buckets and water campers filled with chilled water to take it home, as the candidates had ordered a bulk quantity of ice for the purpose. “The contestants are serving free water to everyone and it is a noble cause. We are also taking water home,” said Shanti Devi, a voter from Galwaday Chak village.

“What if they are trying to lure us by providing chilled water, it is our basic necessity. Those who are offering water today will definitely highlight our problems in future, if elected,” she maintained. She added that offering water was considered the best way to serve humanity.

Similarly, Dileep Kumar, a supporter of a candidate for the post of sarpanch, who was offering water, said, “To provide water is not a crime. We are doing this as there is no arrangement of water. What’s wrong if the people are taking water home? It gives us satisfaction”.

Even policemen and officials deployed outside the polling stations found themselves helpless, as offering water was not prohibited under any law. A police officer said, “The temperature is touching almost 42°C and what is wrong if these people are offering water to voters. We are deployed here to keep a check on illegal activities and providing water is not an illegal activity as per the rules of the election commission”.