STATE TIMES NEWS
Srinagar: Chhari Mubarak the saffron-robed holy mace of Lord Shiva was taken to the historic Shankaracharya temple here for special prayers as part of the ongoing annual Amarnath Yatra.
The Chhari Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji led by Mahant Deependra Giri was taken to the historic Shankaracharya temple located at Gopadri hills for prayers on the occasion of Haryali-Amavasya’ (Shravan Amavasya) as per age-old customs.
Giri, the custodian of the mace, said that the sound of conch shells charged the atmosphere and pujan’ was chanting vedic hymns performed.
The sadhus, who accompanied the holy mace, participated in the pooja as collective prayers were also offered for peace and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir, Giri added.
The Mahant said that special prayers were held for the well-being of the people.
The Chhari Mubarak will be taken to Sharika-Bhawani’ temple, Hari Parbat here to pay obeisance to the goddess on Thursday, he added.
Giri said that rituals would be performed for Chhari-Sthapana at Shri Amareshwar temple Dashnami Akhara here on Saturday after which Chhari-Pujan will be performed at Dashnami Akhara on the auspicious occasion of Nag-Panchami’ on Monday.
The Mahant will carry the holy mace to the holy cave shrine to perform pujan and have darshan’ on the morning of Shravan-Purnima’ on August 31 after having night halts at Pahalgam on August 26 and Chandanwari on August 28, Sheshnag on August 29 and Panchtarani on August 30.
The puja at the holy cave shrine will be followed by visarjan’ in Lidder river at Pahalgam the next day.
Giri said it is a matter of satisfaction that the yatra passed off smoothly and remained incident-free.
“The people of Jammu and Kashmir have always supported the yatra and I am sure it will continue. When we welcome the yatris, it will send a message across the country. In the times to come, I think more people will undertake the yatra and the facilities will also get improved,” he added.
The Mahant said that he would pray at the holy cave shrine for return of peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir as it was before 1989.
Meanwhile, a batch of 834 pilgrims on Wednesday left a base camp here for the Kashmir Valley under tight security to undertake the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, officials said.
The 39th batch comprising 614 males, 146 females, 67 seers and seven children left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp, in a convoy of 27 vehicles, for the twin base camps in Pahalgam and Baltal, between 3 am and 3.40 am, they said.
The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-metre high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1.
The traditional 48-kilometre Nunwan-Pahalgam route has so far been chosen by 586 pilgrims and they left for Amarnath in 20 vehicles.
The shorter but more challenging 14-kilometre Baltal route was preferred by the remaining 248 and they left Jammu in seven vehicles for the Amarnath. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31.
