415 yatris perform darshan
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 2: The Chhari Mubarak (holy mace) of Lord Shiva left for the cave shrine of Shri Amarnath ji under tight security measures from Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar early this morning marking the formal beginning of annual Amarnath yatra.
The Chhari Mubarak was led by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji, the custodian of holy mace and it was accompanied by a large number of Sadhus and devotees. Earlier, puja was performed at Dashnami Akhara by Sadhus and Mahant Ji. A large number of devotees from different parts of Srinagar city and outskirts participated in the puja and paid obeisance to silver mace of Lord Shiva and Mata Parvati.
As the holy mace left the Dashnami Akhara for the cave shrine ‘Bum Bum Bholey’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’ chanted by Sadhus rent the air.
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It may be recalled that Chhari Sathapna was performed at Dashnami Akhara on July 26 for darshan of devotees. The authorities had made tight security arrangements at Srinagar while the security forces also escorted the holy mace to Pahalgam.
Enroute, the holy mace performed darshan at Durga Nag temple and Sureshwar temple on outskirts of Srinagar, Shiv Temples of Pampore and Bijbehara in a traditional way. Large number of devotees had assembled in these temples to receive the holy mace and pay their obeisance to it.
Later, it went to holy shrine of Martand in Mattan tehsil of Anantnag district. A large number of devotees, officers of Civil and Police as well as the office bearers of Martand Trust were present there to receive the holy mace there. They included SSP Anantnag Mohammed Altaf Khan , Additional DC Anantnag, president of Martand Tirath Trust Ashok Sidha and other officers.
After performing pooja archana at Sun temple of Martand in a traditional way, the Sadhus and other devotees accompanying the holy mace were served prashad which was arranged by the Trust.
Later, the holy mace left for Ganesh Temple Ganeshbal across the river Lidder to perform puja before its night halt at Pahalgam.
At Pahalgam, the Chhari Sathapana was performed and puja archana held in the evening by Sadhus led by Mahant Ji. On the occasion Mahant Ji said the holy mace will stay at Pahalgam for two nights i .e on August 2 and August 3 night.
He said the holy mace will leave for Chandanwari on August 4 from Pahalgam and after a night halt there it will leave for Sheshnag on August 5. Next day on August 6 it will leave for Panchtarni the last halting station enroute to holy cave from traditional Chandanwari-Sheshnag track. It will have a night halt at Panchtarni and next day early in the morning it will leave for holy cave, he added.
Mahant Ji said that after performing Puja archana as per Vedic philosophy for the entire day, the holy mace will return to Panchtarni in the evening. It will have a night halt at Panchtarni and leave for Pahalgam on August 8 on its way back to Dashnami Akhara Srinagar culminating the annual Amarnath yatra.
The immersion ceremony will also be performed in the river Lidder at Pahalgam on August 9 by the Sadhus and later they will be served traditional prashad before leaving for Srinagar.
Meanwhile, on the 35th day of yatra 415 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji taking the total number of pilgrims performing darshan in the cave shrine during last 35 days to 2,56,776.
According to an official spokesman, majority of the pilgrims who performed darshan at holy cave till date have returned to their home States while others are on way.
He said over 200 pilgrims left for holy cave from twin base camps of Nunwan and Baltal this morning. Out of them 76 left via shortest 14 km Domel track from Baltal base camp while 137 left via traditional 46 km long Chandanwari -Sheshnag track from Nunwan Pahalgam base camp.
A fresh batch of 132 pilgrims left for holy cave in five vehicles for twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan under tight security measures from Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Yatri Niwas early this morning, spokesman said.
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