Srinagar/Jammu: Amid chanting of Vedic hymns, special prayers were on Wednesday offered at Pahalgam, traditional base camp for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, marking the commencement of the religious yatra.
The saffron-robed holy mace of Lord Shiva popularly known as ‘Chhari Mubarak’, carried by custodian Mahant Deependra Giri, was taken from its abode at Dashnami Akhara here to Pahalgam on Vyas-Purnima which marks the commencement of annual pilgrimage traditionally, a spokesman of ‘True Trust’ said.
On the 19th day of Shri Amarnathji Yatra, 5,135 Yatris paid obeisance at the Holy Cave. As many as 1,87,903 Yatris have paid obeisance at the 3,880 ft cave shrine till today.
Bhoomi-Pujan, Navgrah-Pujan, Chhari-Pujan and Dhawajarohan ceremonies were performed on the occasion. The Trust, founded by Mahant Giri in 2004, said these are important rituals prior to main course of annual pilgrimage.
“The sound of conch shell reverberated through the whole atmosphere,” the spokesman said, adding that sizable number of sadhus and pilgrims were present on the occasion and also participated in the ‘pujan’.
The holy mace will return to its abode in Srinagar later in the day and will join the pilgrimage on August 13 after special prayers at various temples in the next couple of weeks, he said.