SRINAGAR : Chanting “Har Har Mahadev and Bum Bum Bhole Nath” “Chhari Mubarak”, holy silver Mace of Lord Shiva leaves Pahalgam for a night halt at Chandanwari, last motorable halting station on traditional yatra route to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
The Chhari Mubarak reached Pahalgam yesterday from Amreshwar Temple, Srinagar, after offering puja at several temples, including Sureshwar Temple Srinagar, Shiv Temple Pampore, Shiv Temple Bijbehara, Martand Tirth Mattan and Ganesh Temple Ganesbal across the river Lidder. At Martand Tirth Mattan, large number of devotees received the Chhari. Local Muslims and Sikhs were also present on the occasion.
Mahant Deependra Giri, who was leading the Chhari Mubarak procession said the holy Mace shall make night halts at Chandanwari on August 15, Sheshnag on August 16 and Panjtarani on August 17.
We will pray for peace in the in the country, particularly in the Kashmir Valley, said Mahant Deependra Giri.
Expressing serious concern over the present unrest in the Kashmir valley, he said the number of pilgrims this year has dropped considerably. We were expecting about six lakh devotees when only it will not cross 2.20 lakh.
We witnessed the same situation in 2008 and again in 2010, he said adding we believe that this issue should be resolved once for all as much lives had been lost.
He said actually “Chhari-Pujan” associated with annual Amarnath yatra, was performed on August 7 evening.
This was an important ritual to be performed traditionally on ‘Nag-Panchami’ (Shravan Shukla Paksha Panchmi) before leaving for the main course of pilgrimage.
In the pre 90s, sadhus carrying Chhari used to start their journey on foot for Holy Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas immediately after this pujan.
Having night halts at Pampore, Bijbehara, Anantnag, Martand, Aishmuquam, Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni, Chhari-Mubarak would reach Holy Cave of Amarnathi on ‘Shravan-Purnima’ the ‘Raksha-Bandhan’ day.
However, after 90s, the Chhari is being taken in a vehicle to Pahalgam after brief halts at different places on way.
He said now on August 18, the day of Shravan- Purnima (RAKSHA-BANDHAN) Chhari-Mubarak shall proceed from Panjtarni to Holy Shrine situated at an altitude of 13,500 feet from the sea level for Darshan and Pujan.
The Chhari will start return journey same evening through traditional route. (UNI)
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