Over 3,000 pilgrims leave Jammu for holy Shrine
STATE TIMES NEWS
SRINAGAR: The Chhari Mubarak of Amarnath Yatra was taken to Pahalgam on Sunday from its abode at Dashnami Akhara building here for various rituals to mark Ashadh Purnima, the start of religious aspects of the annual pilgrimage.
“Chanting Vedic hymn, ‘Bhoomi-Pujan’, ‘Navgrah-Pujan’, ‘Chhari-Pujan’ and ‘Dhawajarohan’ ceremonies were performed at Pahalgam on the auspicious occasion of Ashadh Purnima that marks the commencement of annual pilgrimage of Swami Amarnath Ji, traditionally and religiously,” Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the Chhari Mubarak, said.
Giri said these are important rituals prior to the main course of annual pilgrimage of Chhari-Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji.
“The sound of conch shells reverberated the whole atmosphere. A sizeable number of sadhus, pilgrims and numerous Kashmiri Pandit families from Martand were present on the occasion and participated in the pujan,” he said.
Giri said a ‘hawan’ was also performed after the ‘pujan’ and langar was also served to all those present.
Giri said the people of Jammu and Kashmir, irrespective of their caste, creed or religion, have been cooperating, assisting and encouraging the pilgrims and sadhus who come here from across the country and even abroad for this annual pilgrimage.
Giri expressed satisfaction and thanked the administration for making arrangements for the event.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 3,113 pilgrims, including 707 women, left a base camp here early morning to join the annual Amarnath pilgrimage in south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
The 52-day yatra commenced from the twin routes of Pahalgam in Anantnag and Baltal in Ganderbal districts on June 29.
So far, nearly 3.90 lakh pilgrims have paid their obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice-shivlingam.
The 24th batch of pilgrims, which also included 87 Sadhus and 15 Sadhvis, left Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp in a convoy of 123 vehicles around 2.55 am, amid tight security arrangements, the officials said.
While 1,960 pilgrims will take the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route for their yatra, 1,153 pilgrims have opted for the shorter but steep 14-km Baltal route, the officials said. The yatra will culminate on ‘Shravan Purnima’, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan on August 19. Last year, over 4.5 lakh pilgrims offered their prayers at the shrine.