The annual Kousarnag Yatra began from the ancient Lord Shiva temple in Reasi on Saturday under extensive security and emergency-response arrangements, with pilgrims starting the demanding journey towards the high-altitude Kousarnag Shiv Dham in the Pir Panjal range.
Police, the Indian Army, Central Reserve Police Force, Special Operations Group and other security agencies have been deployed to protect the pilgrimage. The civil administration has also positioned disaster-response and rescue teams because the route involves difficult terrain and may face weather-related challenges.
Organisers expect participation to rise sharply this year. Their estimate places the likely number of devotees at nearly 10,000, compared with around 5,000 during the previous year. The anticipated increase has required wider coordination among security forces, rescue agencies, local authorities and the pilgrimage organisers.
Pilgrims are scheduled to trek on foot from Mahore towards Kousarnag Shiv Dham on August 22. The holy bath and principal religious ceremonies are planned for August 23, after which the return journey towards Reasi is expected to begin on August 24.
Security personnel have been working along the route for several days. Teams from the Army, CRPF, Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Special Operations Group have been placed at relevant points, while area-domination and cordon-and-search exercises have been carried out in locations identified as vulnerable.
The district administration has deployed teams from the State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force, in addition to the Army and paramilitary presence. Their role is particularly important on a high-altitude route where medical emergencies, sudden weather changes or difficult ground conditions can complicate evacuation and rescue.
Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Reasi-Udhampur Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, extended greetings to pilgrims and residents and said the necessary arrangements had been made for a safe and smooth pilgrimage. Authorities are maintaining heightened vigilance as several major pilgrimages are taking place in the region during the holy month of Shravan.
The Kousarnag Yatra coincides with the Amarnath Yatra, Budha Amarnath Yatra and Kailashkund Yatra. The simultaneous movement of pilgrims across different routes requires sustained deployment, traffic coordination and emergency preparedness in several districts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Kousarnag, also known as Kausar Nag, is an alpine lake in the Pir Panjal range of south Kashmir. It holds religious significance and is associated with an ancient pilgrimage tradition. In older texts, the lake is referred to as Karamasar or Veshnopad, while the Vishav, also called Veshaw, River is traditionally believed to originate there before flowing towards the Kashmir Valley.
Organisers have also noted stronger participation by younger devotees, saying that more than half of last year’s pilgrims were below 30 years of age. For the current pilgrimage, the immediate focus remains safe completion of the trek, ceremonies at the Dham and the organised return to Reasi.
