SRINAGAR : The 40-day-long annual Amarnath pilgrimage concluded today when “Chhari Mubarak”, the holy Silver Mace of Lord Shiva was taken inside the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas on the occasion of “Sharavan Purnima” (Rakshabandan).
A small group of devotees left Baltal base camp for the holy cave early this morning while there was no yatri from Pahalgam.
About 2.60 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance during the pilgrims which commenced from June 29 from both shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks.
Over 40 devotees have lost their lives in terror attack, accidents and health problems this year.
“Bam Bam Bolay and Har Har Mahadev” rent the air when Mahant Deependra Giri, carrying Chhari-Mubarak, accompanied by large number devotees, including Sadhus, left Panjterni for holy cave shrine on traditional Pahalgam routes early this morning.
Amid chanting of Vedic hymns Deependra Giri took the Chhari Muabarak inside the cave shrine early this morning where special puja was held after covering 2 km distance from Panjterni to holy cave on foot. The Chhari had reached Panjterni for a night halt from Sheshnag early yesterday.
He said there was no yatri at Pahalgam or Chandanwari since they could not have made it to cave shrine today, when last pujan of this year’s yatra was held.
However, he said some pilgrims who had arrived at Baltal yesterday left for the cave shrine early this morning. The pilgrims will pay obeisance and have darshan on the concluding day today after covering 14-km-long hilly terrain before returning back to base camp in the afternoon.
Mahant Giri said on “Raksha Bandhan” today ” Sharavan Purnima” Chhari Mubarak left Panjterni for holy Cave for Pujan at 0700 hrs. Traditional rituals will be performed & prayers offered the whole day at holy cave. However, before dusk, Chhari-Mubarak will leave for night halt at Panchtarani, he said adding from there charri will leave for night halt at Pahalgam at 0700 hrs tomorrow.
On August 9 ‘Dvitiya Pujan’ & ‘Visarjan’ ceremonies shall be performed at 0915 hrs on the bank of river Lidder at Pahalgam. Thereafter, traditional ‘Kari-Pakouri’ Bhandara shall be organized for Sadhus. With this last ritual, annual pilgrimage of Swami Amarnath Ji shall culminate. Chhari-Mubarak shall return to its Abode Ameshwar temple Desknami Akahtar at Srinagar. (agencies)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel