Holy mace to leave today under tight security

Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 1: The holy mace (Chhari Mubarak) of Lord Shiva will leave for Shri Amarnath Ji cave early tomorrow morning from Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar where it has been kept for darshan of devotees since July 26 after its Sathapana by Mahant Deependra Giri ,the custodian of holy mace.
The authorities have made elaborate security arrangements for the holy mace right from Dashnami Akhara to cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji situated at an altitude of 3880 meters in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag. Besides, elaborate security arrangements have been made in the temples enroute to holy cave where the Chhari Mubarak will perform puja tomorrow, official sources said.
DIG Srinagar, Ghulam Hassan Bhat told Excelsior that all arrangements are in place and holy mace will leave tomorrow morning under tight security measures on its way to cave shrine.
He said security arrangements as usual have been made right from Srinagar to cave shrine as well as other temples where holy mace will stop to perform religious rituals.
Mahant Deependra Giri said that the Chhari Mubarak will leave Dashnami Akhara , Srinagar at 8 am tomorrow straight way to Durga Nag temple on the outskirts of Srinagar city and after paying obeisance at the temple the holy mace will start onwards journey towards Pahalgam where it will have two night stays on August 2 and 3 respectively.
Enroute to Pahalgam, he said, holy mace will perform Puja at Suryar temple also on outskirts of Srinagar, Shiv temples of Pampore and Bijbehara before leaving for Sun temple Martand at Mattan in South Kashmir district of Anantnag.
The devotees enroute will also perform the darshan of holy mace. At Martand temple traditional puja archana will be performed by Mahant Ji and Sadhus accompanying holy mace. The Sadhus and other devotees will also be served the bhandara at Martand in the afternoon which has been arranged by Martand Trust after which the holy mace will leave for Ganeshbal, another ancient shrine enroute to holy cave.
The elaborate security arrangements have been made at Martand shrine. Besides the CRPF and local police, Army will also be deployed early morning for the security of holy mace, sources said.
The DC Anantnag, SSP Anantnag and other senior police and civil officers will also be present at Martand shrine tomorrow to receive the holy mace, sources said.
At Ganeshbal the Sadhus will perform puja at the shrine across the river Lidder and start onwards journey to Pahalgam where Chhari puja and Sathapana will be held. After a two day night halt at Pahalgam i. e on August 2 and 3 respectively, the holy mace will leave for Chandanwari on August 4 morning. On August 5, it will leave from Chandanwari to Sheshnag. On August 6 it will leave from Sheshnag to Panchtarni and after a night halt at Panchtarni the holy mace will leave for cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji in the wee hours of August 7, Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival.
After paying obeisance at holy cave and performing traditional puja the silver mace will start its return journey on the same day and have a nigh halt at Panchtarni. Next day it will leave for Pahalgam on way to Dashnami Akhara Srinagar. With this, the 40 day long annual Amarnath yatra will culminate.
Mahant Ji said the holy mace consisting of two wooden sticks, one depicting Lord Shiva and another Goddess Parvati have been covered with the silver coating.
He said at holy cave Lord Shiva’s identity in the shape of Himling (Ice Lingam) still exists and the devotees come for darshan here since the Puranic period.
Meanwhile, on 34th day of darshan 819 pilgrims paid obeisance to Ice Lingam at holy cave from different parts of the country today. With this the total number of pilgrims paying obeisance since the first day of darshan in cave shrine has touched 2,56,361.
According to an official spokesman, over 200 pilgrims left for holy cave from twin base camps of Nunwan Pahalgam in Anantnag district of South Kashmir and Baltal, Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir from traditional Chandanwari –Sheshnag and shortest Domel track respectively.
He said the yatris having night halt at Sheshnag and Panchtarni also left for onwards sojourn early this morning.
Besides 155 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu Yatri Niwas for twin base camps of Nunwan Pahalgam and Baltal Sonamarg in six vehicles under tight security measures early this morning.

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