Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 9: The Chhari Mubarak silver mace -one depicting Lord Shiva and another Goddess Parwati performed darshan in Himalayan cave at a height of 3880 meters in South Kashmir district of Anantnag today.
The holy mace led by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji, its sole custodian performed Pujan and day long religious rituals at cave shrine in accordance with age old tradition on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Purnima. The holy mace reached the cave shrine, amid the blowing of the conch shells by Sadhus and reciting of Vedic hymns.
The Sadhus led by Mahant Ji paid obeisance to naturally formed Ice Shivlingam in the cave shrine and prayed for the peace and well being of people of J&K as well as prosperity of entire humanity. The tight security arrangements were made at holy cave as a big contingent of police and security forces were manning the area. The holy mace after performing the religious rituals later returned to Panchtarni for a night halt on way to Pahalgam tomorrow.
Earlier holy mace which had reached Panchtarni -the last halting camp on Nunwan Pahalgam traditional track yesterday started its journey towards cave shrine at wee hours by ascending the treacherous and steep Amarnath Hill falling in between Panchtarni and holy cave. Escorted by CRPF and J&K Police personnel the Sadhus enroute were chanting ‘Har Har Mahadev’.
As the holy mace reached the cave shrine the slogans ‘Bum -Bum Bhole’ and ‘Har Har Har Mahadev’ rent the air. The Sadhus started blowing the conch shells and chanting Vedic mantras in praise of Lord Shiva.
The holy mace after a night halt will start its return journey for Pahalgam from Panchtarni tomorrow morning and it will reach Pahalgam late in the evening. After a night halt at Pahalgam next day all religious rituals will be performed at the bank of river Lidder where the immersion ceremony of relics will be performed in a traditional way. This will be followed by the serving of Prashad to Sadhus and devotees by the True Trust founded by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji. In the evening the holy mace will leave for its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar. With this the annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji which had started on July 3 from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam will culminate.
During this year’s yatra 4.15 lakh pilgrims performed darshan in the cave shrine. The annual yatra which was to culminate today as per schedule was however suspended on August 3 -one week ahead of schedule due to damage caused to tracks after heavy rainfall and bad weather conditions.
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