SRINAGAR : ‘Chhari Mubarak’, holy Mace of Lord Shiva, will reach Panjterni for a final darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam in the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himlayas tomorrow on the occasion of Shravan Purnima (Raksha bandan).
Singing devotional songs, a large number of devotees, after a night halt, left Sheshnag early this morning with Chhari-Mubarak for Panjterni, the last halting station on the traditional Pahalgam track.
Har Har Mahadev and Bam Bam Bholay rented the air when Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of the holy Mace, carrying the Chhari, left Sheshnag.
Mahant said pujan will be held at Panjterni and devotees will sing devotional songs today. However, after a night halt Chhari will leave for the holy cave shrine early tomorrow morning on the occasion of Shravan Purnima. Finally, the Chhari will enter the holy cave shrine after covering 5-km-long distance on foot for a final Pujan, marking the end of annual 44-day-long pilgrimage this year on the occasion of Sharavan Purnima. Mahant Giri said after pujan for entire day, the Chhari will started return journey before the sunset tomorrow. Mahant Giri said the Chhari will return to its abode at Deshnami Akhara on August 12 after organising traditional pujan and other rituals on way back from holy Cave.
Meanwhile, fresh batches of pilgrims, probably for the last, left this morning base camps for the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalyas, where so far 3.72 lakh yatris had paid obeisance before the self made Ice-Shivlingam since the commencement of the yatra from June 28.
The weather was cloudy and there was rain also but the pilgrimage was progressing smoothly, yatra officials said. They said a group of about 50 pilgrims, who had arrived at Nunwan Pahalgam base camp from Jammu last evening left early this morning to join the Chhari-Mubarak which has reached Panjterni, 5-km short of the cave shrine today. These pilgrims have to join the Chhari at Panjterni till this evening as the 44-day-long annual pilgrimage will culminate tomorrow after final darshan in the cave shrine. Now no pilgrim will be allowed on this traditional track, they said, adding that the gates have been closed for this year now.
More than 50 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Batal Base camp early this morning for the cave shrine. If any yatra will reach the base camp even this evening, he or she will be allowed to proceed towards the cave shrine even tomorrow.
It takes only few hours to reach the cave shrine from this track, they said, adding that yatris can also return through this track in one-day.
Officials said that yesterday 1035 pilgrims had paid obeisance to the Ice-Lingam.
However, the pilgrims who had night halt at Panjterni reached the cave shrine this morning. With this, a total of abut 3.72 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the holy cave this year,
Two more pilgrims from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh (UP) have died at Sheshnag on traditional yatra route, taking the toll to 45 since the commencement of the 44-day-long annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas from June 28. Yatra official said a 70-year-old sadhu Paku Dass, resident of Mahdavpure, Bihar, suffered a massive heart attack at Sheshnag, where the Chhari-Mubarak reached yesterday from Chandanwari.
Dass was immediately shifted to health centre where he was declared brought dead.
Another pilgrim Rachal (61) also suffered heart attack at Shehnag on the traditional route. He died before he could be shifted to health centre, they said. With this, a total of 45 pilgrims have died during the pilgrimage from Baltal and Pahalgam tracks. Majority of them died due to heart attack and four of them in accidents. (agencies)
Trending Now
E-Paper
Follow our WhatsApp channel