Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 28: With ‘Chhari Mubarak’ the holy mace of Lord Shiva leaving for 3,888 metre high cave shrine from Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar today the 39 day long Amarnath yatra has entered its last leg while a fresh batch of 4,326 pilgrims paid their obeisance in the holy cave in South Kashmir district of Anantnag.
The saffron-robed mace was taken from its Dashnami Akhara abode at Budshah Chowk Srinagar to Pahalgam by a group of Sadhus and pilgrims led by its custodian Mahant Deependra Giri, officials said.
The Chhari Mubarak was offered prayers at various temples en route to Pahalgam, which serves as the traditional base camp for the annual pilgrimage, they said, adding the Sadhus will offer special prayers to the Chhari before leaving for the cave shrine housing naturally formed Ice-Shivlingam.
The Chhari Mubarak was given rousing reception at Durga Nag Temple Srinagar by the local Hindus. The function was organised by Durga Nag Trust and pooja of holy mace was performed by Jyotshi Omkar Nath Shastri. The managing committee of the Trust was also present on the occasion.
This was followed by Chhari Poojan at Shuryar Mandir Sonawar, Srinagar, Shiv Temple, Pampore, Shiv Temple Bijbehara and Tirath Raj Mattan in a traditional way.
However the Chhari Mubarak did not enter the Nagbal Anantnag this time where it used to stay for one night prior to turmoil. The holy mace was given a grand reception on its arrival at Sun Temple Mattan by the Prohit Sabha led by its president M K Yogi. Over one thousand devotees participated in the Chhari Pooja on the occasion.
The devotees were served with prashad after the pooja. The Chhari Pooja was also performed at Ganesh temple Ganeshbal on Pahalgam -Mattan road and Shiv Temple at Akhara Pahalgam later this evening.
The holy mace after two night halts at Pahalgam will leave for Chandanwari on July 30 and after a night halt there it will leave for Sheshnag next day. From there the holy mace will leave for Panchtarni and after a night halt at Panchtarni it will leave for holy cave.
The holy mace will cover 46-km Pahalgam-cave route amid night halts at Sheshnag and Panchtarni before reaching the cave shrine on Sawan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan on August 2 marking the end of the annual pilgrimage.
The Amarnath yatra commenced on June 25 from the twin tracks-traditional 45-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and 16-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district-and so far over 6.03 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the shrine.
Before leaving the temple, the Mahant advised the pilgrims to go for proper medical check for embarking on the yatra as over 90 pilgrims died, mostly due to cardiac arrest, during this year’s yatra.
With the performance of darshan by 4,362 pilgrims in holy cave today the total number of yatris visiting the cave shrine in 34 days of yatra so far has touched 6, 07,740, an official spokesman said. Over 6.03 lakh pilgrims had performed darshan in holy cave till late last night, he added.
He said 1,420 pilgrims left from Nunwan-Pahalgam base camp via traditional Chandanwari track while 888 left via shortest Baltal track early this morning.
The weather was pleasant in the yatra area for entire day, he added.
PTI adds from Bangalore: With criticism mounting over rise in casualties of Amarnath yatris, Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar, one of the members of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), today rejected criticisms made against the Board over poor arrangements and asserted that it has made every effort in its capacity.
In a statement here, he said media reports and intellectual bodies have presented “incorrect” pictures as though the SASB, responsible for holding the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, was not providing proper facilities and medical care for the pilgrims.
He appealed everybody not to “politicise” and question the integrity and sincerity of the body.
Expressing pain over the casualties of pilgrims, he said SASB was in touch with all stake holders, including those in Jammu, to make the yatra as smooth as possible and Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and his Government have been extending all cooperation.
“The SASB has made every effort in its capacity. The huge amount of effort that has gone in building more toilets, facilities for hygiene and to take care of the ecology and the environment should not be overlooked”, he said.
Ravishankar suggested construction of concrete structure or a structure carved into the rock/hill, which could withstand extreme weather conditions and provide better medical facility for the yatris be created.
There was also a need for a well-equipped hospital at the base camp in Baltal. All that we would require was for the Forest Department to clear this piece of land to build the shelters on the way to the shrine, for the Army to widen the tracks and required funds need to be sanctioned either by the State or the Centre, he said.
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