Manali: Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) will immerse on Wednesday the remains of its late leader Ashok Singhal at Chandrabhaga Sangam, the confluence of the Chandra and the Bhaga. Thousands of people from many states are expected to reach the banks of the Chenab, locally known as Chandrabhaga River. While VHP leaders are already camping in Lahaul for days, Union minister for state for tourism and cultural Mahesh Sharma, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and many other politicians, gurus, saints and lamas will be present on the occasion at Tandi village near the confluence.
VHP leader Ashok Singhal’s mortal remains were being taken to immerse in Chandrabhaga in November last year after his death, but snowfall blocked Manali-Lahaul highway and the remains were kept at Buddhist monastery in Manali. VHP organizing secretary Manoj Kumar and others took the mortal remains from Manali to Lahaul on Tuesday.
“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit the Sangam to pay tribute to Singhal,” he said. “This is all about reviving the history of a Vedic river. All preparations have been made to perform both Hindu and Buddhist rituals by religious gurus at the confluence,” Chandrabhaga Sangam Parv Organizing Committee president Dr Chander Mohan Parsheera said.
“Many cultural troupes from Lahaul and other states will also perform here. We shall organize this cultural ritual and Benu Samagam festival every year from now onwards,” he added. Thousands of pilgrims visit Ladakh for Sindhu Darshan festival every year. The committee is planning to make a complete circuit and draw the pilgrims from Sindhu Darshan to Chandrabhaga Sangam. People of Lahaul consider Chandrabhaga a holy river and many Hindus and Buddhists immerse the mortal remains at Sangam near Tandi village.
