Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/JAMMU July 23: ‘Chhari Mubarak’ – the saffron robed holy mace of Lord Shiva – was today taken to the historic Shankaracharya temple on a hillock here where special prayers were offered as per the age-old customs related to the annual Amarnath yatra.
Carried by its custodian Mahant Deependra Giri and accompanied by a group of Sadhus and devotees, the holy mace was taken out from its abode at Dashnami Akhara in Budshah Chowk area of the Srinagar city and offered special prayers at Shankaracharya temple on the occasion of Haryali Amavasya (Shravan Amavasya), a spokesman of the ‘True Trust’, founded by Giri in 2004, said.
He said collective prayers were also offered for peace and prosperity of the State as well as nation. The sound of conch shell reverberated and charged the whole atmosphere. Pujan was performed chanting Vedic hymn. Sizable number of Sadhus and pilgrims who had come from across the country participated in the prayers that lasted for more than two hours.
The spokesman said the Chhari Mubarak will be taken to ‘Sharika Bhawani’ temple at Hari Parbat in downtown Srinagar to pay obeisance to the Goddess tomorrow.
The ‘holy mace’ will begin its journey from Srinagar to the 3,880- metre high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on August 2 with halts at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarani along the traditional 46-km Pahalgam cave route.
He said ‘the True Trust’, will make all the necessary arrangements like yester years for Sadhus and needy from the general public coming from across the country to join Chhari-Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji Yatra for their food, accommodation and transportation during the pilgrimage.
Meanwhile on the 25th day of darshan today 3,734 pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave of Lord Shiva and cumulatively since the beginning of pilgrimage, 2,40, 249 yatris had darshan of ice lingam in the cave shrine, the spokesman said.
He said over 2000 pilgrims left for holy cave from twin base camps of Baltal, Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir and Nunwan Pahalgam in South Kashmir district of Anantnag today.
Out of them 1115 pilgrims left via traditional 14 km long Domel track from Baltal base camp while 968 pilgrims left via 46 km long traditional Chandanwari- Sheshnag route from Nunwan base camp.
The yatris having night halt at Sheshnag and Panchtarni also left for their onwards sojourn early this morning, the spokesman said, adding the yatra is proceeding smoothly from both the tracks.
The spokesman said the majority of the pilgrims who performed darshan at the holy cave have reached their home States while others are on the way.
The spokesman said 1002 pilgrims left for twin base camps of Nunwan and Baltal from Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Yatri Niwas early this morning under tight security measures.
Chanting ‘Bum Bum Bholey’ and ‘Baba Barfani Ki Jai’ these yatris left in a cavalcade of 34 vehicles. All the yatris had reached their destinations by this evening, the spokesman said.
The 40 day long annual yatra which started from Jammu on June 28 will culminate on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan falling on August 7, the day when holy mace will reach the cave shrine. This year, the yatra was curtailed by 8 days than previous year.
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