Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 16: The holy mace of Lord Shiva reached Sheshnag transit camp this evening. Led by Mahant Deependra Giri, its custodian, the holy mace left the Chandanwari transit camp early this morning by trekking the steep Pisso top in deep Himalyas on way to Sheshnag.
After a night halt at Sheshnag the holy mace will leave for Panchtarni the last haltage stop on way to cave shrine situated at an altitude 3880 meters in South Kashmir district of Anantnag early tomorrow morning.
After a night halt at Panchtarni, the holy mace will reach cave shrine early morning of Sharawan Purnima the day coinciding with Raksha Bandan festival on August 18 and after paying obeisance of the naturally formed Ice Lingam and performing pooja -archana it will start return journey in the evening for Panchtarni on the same day.
Next day i .e on August 19 it will march towards Pahalgam where after a night halt the holy mace after performing religious rituals on the bank of river Lidder will leave for its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar on August 20.
Meanwhile, 141 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave today while 176 pilgrims have paid obeisance at cave shrine yesterday. With this the total number of pilgrims paying obeisance at cave shrine till date has touched 2,20, 295.
According to an official spokesman, in addition to 34 Sadhus accompanying the holy mace 42 pilgrims left from Chandanwari to holy cave this morning. Besides, 37 pilgrims left from Pahalgam to holy cave by chopper today, he added.
He said 32 pilgrims returned to Pahalgam by chopper after performing darshan while 65 returned by foot after performing darshan at cave shrine.
He said 65 pilgrims are staying at Nunwan for night while 52 have left for Jammu late last night.
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