Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 5: Amidst chanting of Vedic hymns, the holy mace (Chhari Mubarak)of Lord Shiva left Chandanwari, the last motorable station enroute to cave shrine for Sheshnag today.
Led by Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of silver mace of Lord Shiva, a large number of Sadhus and devotees accompanied it to Sheshnag the next halting station to cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3880 meters in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag.
After a night halt at Sheshnag, the holy mace will leave for Panchtarni the last halting station on way to cave shrine tomorrow i.e on August 6. The holy mace will have a night halt at Panchtarni and next day it will leave for cave shrine in the wee hours of Shrawan Purnima falling on August 7 for darshan. After performing day long Puja -Archana the Mahant and Sadhus will start their return journey towards Panchtarni for a night halt in the evening.
The Chhari Mubarak will leave Panchtarni early morning of August 8 towards Pahalgam on its way to Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar the abode of holy mace.
After a night halt at Pahalgam the immersion ceremonies will be performed in the river Lidder on August 9. Later, the Sadhus will be served the traditional Kadi Pakora Prashad before leaving for Dashnami Akhara ,Srinagar culminating the 40 day long annual pilgrimage of holy Amarnath.
Meanwhile, on the 38th day of 40 day yatra, 628 pilgrims paid obeisance to Ice Lingam in holy cave today. With this 2,59,042 pilgrims have performed darshan of cave shrine so far since the first day of darshan which started on June 29, an official spokesman said.
He said out of them majority of pilgrims have returned to their home States while others are on the way.
The spokesman said 250 pilgrims left for holy cave from twin base camps of Nunwan , Pahalgam in South Kashmir district of Anantnag and Baltal, Sonamarg in Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal. Out of them 159 pilgrims left from shortest 14 km Domel track from Baltal Base Camp while 96 pilgrims left via traditional 46 km long Chandanwari -Sheshnag track from Nunwan Base Camp early this morning.
In addition to this the pilgrims having night halt at halting stations of Sheshnag and Panchtarni also started their onwards sojourn early this morning.
The spokesman said that the last batch of pilgrims will reach holy cave from both tracks on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival on August 7.
A fresh batch of 89 pilgrims in four vehicles left for Baltal Base Camp from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here early this morning under tight security arrangements, spokesman said.
These pilgrims after a night halt at the base camps will leave for holy cave early tomorrow morning, the spokesman added.
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