Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 13: Holy Amarnath yatra was suspended from Jammu to Srinagar for three consecutive days from today for security reasons and no pilgrim was allowed to leave for holy cave from here.
The yatra will also remain suspended on August 14 and 15 from Jammu to twin base camps of Baltal in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir and Nunwan -Pahalgam in South Kashmir district of Anantnag due to security reasons, official sources said.
However, the yatra from Baltal plied normally today and 657 pilgrims paid obeisance holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji on 47th day of darshan today, an Officer on yatra duty said.
He said till date 2,79,535 pilgrims performed darshan in the holy cave since the two month long yatra started on June 28.
The officer said no yatri was allowed to leave for holy cave from traditional Chandanwari track and yatra remained suspended from Nunwan Base camp also today.
He said, however, 153 pilgrims from Baltal base camp left for holy cave early this morning for darshan while 81 left by chopper during the day.
He said the traffic from both the base camps to Jammu will remain suspended tomorrow and day after tomorrow due to security reasons and no pilgrim will be allowed to leave for Jammu during these two days.
Meanwhile, in connection with annual pilgrimage of Chhari-Mubarak, Swami Amarnathji, ‘Chhari-Sthapana’ ceremony was performed with chanting of Vedic hymn at Shri Amareshwar Temple, Akhara Building, Budshah Chowk, Srinagar this morning by a group of Sadhus led by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji, the sole custodian of the holy mace and the head of True Trust formed by him in 2004. It took more than two hours completing the rituals.
Chhari-Mubarak (holy mace), one depicting Lord Shiva and another Goddess Parvati shall be kept in the temple at Akhara building Srinagar for ‘darshan’ till it leaves for main course of pilgrimage on August 20.
Pilgrims and public in general have the privilege to have ‘darshan’ of holy mace kept in Shri Amareshwar Temple, Dashnami Akhara Srinagar during these days.
Traditional ‘Chhari-Pujan’ will be performed on August 15 on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ (Shravan Shukla Paksha Panchami) at Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.
‘The True Trust’, founded by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji has made all the necessary arrangements like yester years for Sadhus and needy from the general public coming from across the country to join Chhari-Mubarak of Swami Amarnath Ji Yatra for their food, accommodation and transportation during the annual pilgrimage.
Then Charri Mubarak which will leave Dashnami Akhara on August 20 will reach Pahalgam on the dame day after performing puja enroute at Durga Nag temple lying in the foothills of Shankracharya hill lock in Srinagar, Shiv temple of Pampore, Awantipora, Bijbehara, Anantnag, Sun temple of Mattan, Ganeshbal before reaching Pahalgam. After having two days halt at Pahalgam, the holy mace will leave for cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3880 meters in deep Himlayas on August 22 to reach there in the wee hours of Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha bandhan festival on August 26.
After performing the puja for the whole day in the holy cave the Chhari Mubarak will leave for Panchtarni in the evening same day. After a night halt at Panchtarni it will leave for Pahalgam next day where with the performance of immersion ceremonies and other rituals on the bank of river Lidder in a traditional way, the holy mace will return to its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar marking the end of two month long annual Amarnath yatra.
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