Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra Serving Pilgrims

For many years, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) has been steadfastly operating a program to provide pilgrimage services:

  • In 2014, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) launched a program to serve pilgrims on the annual Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage throughout the month of Sawan.
  • In 2022, VMRK extended its pilgrimage services program to support pilgrims participating in the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
  • In 2023, VMRK further expanded the program by offering pilgrimage services at the Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple and the Shri Manimahesh Yatra.
  • In February 2024, VMRK began providing food services to devotees visiting Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya.

Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra

The annual pilgrimage, Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, occurs from July to August, during which pilgrims visit the Amarnath Holy Cave to pay reverence to Lord Shiva in the form of an iced stalagmite Shiva Lingam. In 2022, Sant Baljit Singh Ji motivated Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra to serve the devotees and pilgrims visiting the cave.

Serving pilgrims at Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2023

Serving pilgrims at Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2023

During the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra annual pilgrimage, devotees and pilgrims undertake a multi-day journey to worship at the holy shrine at the Amarnath Holy Cave. This pilgrimage is a very difficult trek through mountainous terrain in the Jammu and Kashmir state in...

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Serving at the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2022

Serving at the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2022

During the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2022, devotees from all over India traveled to the Amarnath Holy Cave to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva in the form of an iced stalagmite Shiva Lingam. A record attendance was expected after its two year hiatus due to the COVID-19...

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Reporting for service at Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2022

Reporting for service at Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2022

On June 30, 2022, two fully equipped ambulances departed VMRK headquarters in Nawan Nagar on a 12 hour journey to the Directorate of Health Services, Kashmir in Srinagar. Driving through the night, the ambulances arrived at their destination the next day on July 1,...

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Preparing to serve at Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2022

Preparing to serve at Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2022

Located in the Himalayan sub-valley in Jammu and Kashmir, India, the Amarnath Holy Cave is home to the Shiva Lingam, revered by Hindus as the physical manifestation of Lord Shiva. At an altitude of 3,888 meters, the cave is covered in snow most of the year. In summer,...

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Kanwar Yatra

Throughout the month of Sawan, one can see large numbers of the pilgrims walking along roads leading to the sacred rivers, such as the Ganges. Many make the journey with bare feet and balance on their shoulders a colorfully decorated pole, called a kanwar, which has containers suspended on either side. The pilgrims fill the containers with water from the sacred rivers, then carry it back to their native places, where they make a devotional offering of it in their local temples of Lord Shiva on Sawan Shivratri, the day devoted to Lord Shiva.

This annual pilgrimage, known as Kanwar Yatra, occurs during the monsoon season, so these pilgrims walk long distances in heavy rains, extreme humidity, and heat. The pilgrims wear saffron-colored clothes, and many wear malas (beads used for prayer and meditation) made from sacred rudraksha beads. Ancient Indian scriptures tell how Lord Shiva once came out of a deep meditation, and his tears fell to earth and turned into seeds that grew into rudraksha trees. Beads made from rudraksha tree seeds are known as “Lord Rudra’s teardrops.” The word rudraksha is a combination of two Sanskrit words—Rudra, the name of one of the forms of Lord Shiva, and aksha, teardrops. Especially during the month of Sawan, but also throughout the year, devotees wear sacred rudraksha malas in honor of Lord Shiva.

Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra serves these pilgrims with camps that offer medical care, free food, and resting places.

Kanwar Yatra 2023: serving amid nature’s fury

Kanwar Yatra 2023: serving amid nature’s fury

Every year, the auspicious month of Sawan or Shravan in the Hindu Calendar brings the most awaited journey for devotees, kanwarias, of Lord Shiva. July 3, 2023 saw the start of this year's pilgrimage of the kanwarias with their never-die spirit in spite of nature's...

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Serving kanwarias at kanwar camps 2022

Serving kanwarias at kanwar camps 2022

When the Kanwar Yatra resumed in 2022, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) promptly recommenced its charitable program of camps to support the kanwarias with medical care, food, refreshments, and rest. Read more in our blog post: Organizing the kanwar camps 2022. From...

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Organizing the kanwar camps 2022

Organizing the kanwar camps 2022

In 2022, the Kanwar Yatra resumed after a 2-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As in previous years, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) received permission from local administrations to organize camps to serve the kanwarias (pilgrims). VMRK organized 53 camps in...

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Kanwar Yatra pilgrims surge in lead up to Shivratri

Kanwar Yatra pilgrims surge in lead up to Shivratri

Each year during the annual pilgrimage known as Kanwar Yatra, charitable organizations set up camps along the roadsides to provide amenities to serve the millions of pilgrims and support their devotion. Sant Baljit Singh Ji urged Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra to support...

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Kanwar Yatra: devotion, sacrifice and endurance

Kanwar Yatra: devotion, sacrifice and endurance

On the annual Kanwar Yatra pilgrimages, the kanwarias (pilgrims) fast and walk for hundreds of miles, often in bare feet, to sacred rivers to collect holy water in containers attached to long poles. The kanwarias balance these poles on their shoulders as they make the...

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Offering kanwar camps 2014 – 2019

Offering kanwar camps 2014 – 2019

Once, Sant Baljit Singh Ji was traveling by road and saw many pilgrims undertaking the annual Kanwar Yatra pilgrimage. These pilgrims, known as kanwarias, were carrying their kanwar on their shoulders. Sant Baljit Singh Ji also noticed that the pilgrims were barefoot...

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Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple

Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple is one of the most revered temples in India. Located in the Bilaspur district in the state of Himachal Pradesh, the temple sits on top of a hill, 1,219 meters above sea level, and overlooks the gigantic Gobind Sagar Lake.

This holy shrine is dedicated to Shri Naina Devi, one of the forms of Goddess Shakti. Throughout the year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims and devotees from all walks of life visit the temple for darshan of Maa Naina Devi (Mother Goddess). During auspicious occasions such as Shravan Ashtami, Chaitra Navratri, and Ashvin Navratri the temple organizes fairs or festivals (known as mela). Large crowds attend these festivals to participate in the unique rituals, cultural programs, and fairs. At these events, the temple also arranges free community services for those in need. In particular, medical camps are provided around the temple grounds during these festivals. In 2023, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra extended its pilgrimage services program by organizing two medical camps to serve the pilgrims and devotees during the Shravan Ashtami Mela at Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple.

2023 Shravan Ashtami Fair at Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple

2023 Shravan Ashtami Fair at Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple

Every year, the 10-day Shravan Ashtami Mela at the Shri Naina Devi Ji Temple attracts a daily influx of between 30,000 – 35,000 pilgrims. This year's heavy monsoon rainfall affected the turnout, with attendance decreasing to 10,000 – 15,000 pilgrims per day. Inspite...

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Shri Manimahesh Yatra

The Shri Manimahesh Yatra is a pilgrimage to the foot of Manimahesh Kailash, a sacred mountain located in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. The name Manimahesh signifies the gem that sits on the top of Lord Shiva’s head. It is believed that Lord Shiva created the Divine abode of Manimahesh Kailash after marrying Goddess Parvati.

Every year, this yatra is undertaken in August or September, starting in the sixth month of the Hindu calendar (called Bhadon), on Janmashtami (the eighth day after the new moon). The yatra ends on Radha Ashtami (the eighth day after the full moon). Pilgrims undertake this yatra over 2–3 days, trekking on unpaved paths that are very rocky on steep mountainous terrain to reach the holy Manimahesh Lake situated at an altitude of 4,080 meters.

Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) is inspired by Sant Baljit Singh Ji to serve humanity. In 2023, VMRK extended its pilgrimage services by providing medical and ambulance services to serve the pilgrims during the Shri Manimahesh Yatra.

Medical services at Shri Manimahesh Yatra 2023

Medical services at Shri Manimahesh Yatra 2023

Every year, the Shri Manimahesh Yatra attracts many devotees and pilgrims to the foot of Manimahesh Kailash. This sacred mountain is located in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh. The easiest and most popular pilgrimage route is from Chamba. On this route, the...

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Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple

The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple located in Ayodhya in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, has historical significance. It is considered sacred, being the birthplace of Shri Ram, an incarnation of Lord Vishnu.

People visit the temple to pay reverence to Lord Ram. Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) is taking the opportunity to serve them by offering free food.

Food services at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple

Food services at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple

The consecration of the new Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya on January 22, 2024 was a long awaited historic event in India. The nation commemorated the consecration in joyous celebration and VMRK centers participated in this momentous event with great zest and...

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Celebrating consecration of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple

Celebrating consecration of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple

On January 22, 2024, the Prime Minister of India led the consecration ceremony of Shri Ram’s idol at Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple. Leading up to this day, he urged the nation to celebrate it as an auspicious occasion, akin to Diwali, by illuminating earthen lamps in...

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Serve everyone as part of the family of God.

Sant Baljit Singh Ji