Srinagar, Sept. 19 -- The Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor, Manoj Sinha, on Friday flagged off the Harmukh-Gangbal pilgrimage at Ganderbal. The LG said the yatra is a sacred bridge between India's glorious past and vibrant present.

Addressing the gathering, the LG observed that Jammu and Kashmir has, for millennia, been nourished by an unbroken stream of faith, with every step of its land imbued with spiritual energy, as highlighted by Kalhana in the Rajatarangini.

Quoting from the Nilamata Puana, Sinha noted that Mount Harmukh, also known as Harmukut, is revered as the abode of Lord Shiva, while Gangbal Lake at 14,500 feet is regarded as the sacred presence of Mother Ganga. "Despite difficult terrain and historical upheavals, devo...