OF TEA AND SNACKS TO ITS DEVOTEES.
Every year the pilgrimage to Machel Mata ji takes off on 11th August 2008. But now a days it is leaving Jammu for the Base Camp Chinot Bhadarwah. Ordinarily leaving Jammu at about 9:00 or 9:30 AM it stops at some middle station for serving free lunch to
the devotees and Tea at some other station is served in the evening. It is a very adventurous pilgrimage and flocks of devotees add to its number as a result of which a large number of devotees are visiting the shrine of Divine Mother . One has to scale on foot hill terrain for at least three days. Every day Devotees arrange Meals and Tea and Snacks free of cost for the pilgrims. One feels so much honored when warm welcome is given at many decorative gates in the midway. Mainly the pilgrimages starts with the Holy Mace from Mahalaxmi Mandir (Temple) at Pacca Danga, Jammu. It is very colorful panoramic view to watch the pilgrimage leave for the base camp Chinot.
Many years back devotees had viewed the direct concern and love and affection which Divine Mother Maa Chandi, of Machela showers upon her devotees. The pilgrimage left Jammu after having break fast at Jammu. Then it had lunch served at some Middle Station and it got late for the base camp. Due to the militancy in the District Doda and whole of Jammu and Kashmir the "Sarv Shakti Sansthapak Sanstha," as the organization is known by its popular name in Jammu which organizes mainly the annual pilgrimage to the Shrine of Mata Chandi ji at Machel Village of District Doda in view of shortage of time cancelled the evening programme for serving tea and snacks to the devotees. The Pilgrimage was rushed hurriedly to reach the base camp before the sun set as a safety measure taken by the District Administration with a view to avoid any unforeseen incident. As a result of which a number of devotees had to overcome their craving for tea in the evening.
On arriving the base camp, they were immediately served Tea and Kachories (An Indian snack). On enquiry it was found that none othere had arranged for tea else than the omnipresent Divine Mother Maa Chandi. It was later learnt that the Chief Devotee Th. Kulbir Singh who was all in all for the Management of affairs at base camp and also at Shrine of Maa Machela just two hours before the Holy Mace alongwith pilgimage reached Base Camp had been in trance (Chowki) and Divine Mother through his instrumentality ordered the devotees who were busy preparing evening meals of the devotees with pilgrimage to prepare Tea and serve it to the devotees with the holy mace (&pilgrimate) along with Snack (Kachori, a local bakery item) stating " Most of my Children coming from different cities were tired and missed their tea in emergency. They be served with tea and Kachori immediately on their arrival "
When later, the devotees with pilgrimage came to learn about this, every one of them was overwhelmed with the emotion and felt divine love and care their maa chandi kept showering on them all the time.
