Mahant announces yatra plan
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, June 15: Though the UT administration and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) have not come out with any formal announcement and plan regarding this year’s annual yatra to holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mahant Deependra Giri the custodian of Chhari-Mubarak has announced the programme for this year’s yatra of holy mace to be taken to cave shrine situated in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag.
Keeping with the age-old traditions, rituals namely ‘Bhoomi-Pujan’, ‘Navgreh Pujan’ and ‘Dhawajarohan’ that mark the commencement of annual Chhari-Mubarak of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra will be performed as usual at Pahalgam on auspicious occasion of ‘Ashad-Purnima’ which is also known as Vyas-Purnima falling on July 5, this year.
Mahant Deependra Giri Ji made this announcement for the information of Sadhus and public in general intending to participate in Chhari poojan and yatra to holy cave.
Maintaining that this year Yatra is going to be a low-key affair keeping in view of Covid-19 pandemic, Mahant Ji told Excelsior about the prospects and challenges for this year’s yatra.
He said that greatest challenge would be managing the social distancing amongst the pilgrims who come from across the country and workers in the langars even if yatra is curtailed to two to three weeks only. Yatri Niwas located at Bhagwati Nagar Jammu has also been converted into Covid Care Centre, so accommodating the yatris could be another issue. Doctors, health official and health workers have been tirelessly working to treat COVID-19 patients since the outbreak so availability of health care during yatra could be another challenge, he added.
When asked how would rituals be performed that usually take place traditionally at Pahalgam-Panchtarni route to holy Shrine of Amarnath Ji, he said “In case we continue to witness spike in cases in the weeks to come, then performing rituals connected with annual pilgrimage at holy cave or any other desired place would only be possible by taking aerial route”.
“I am sure Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board and the UT administration have been working collectively to devise a mechanism to conduct this year’s yatra that will be safe for everyone” ,he added.
Mahant Ji in reply to another question that how will the movement of pilgrims be controlled, said “This extraordinary situation demands extraordinary measures”,.
In a communication sent to the Lieutenant Governor, Mahant Deependra Giri Ji has urged him to make all the necessary arrangements to preserve the age-old traditions and to take the appropriate preventive measures for the safety and security of the Sadhus accompanying Holy Mace.
If the situation allows, Chhari-Mubarak will be taken to historic Shankracharya Temple on July 20 and Sharika Bhawani Temple on July 21 before rituals are performed for Chhari-Sthapana at Shri Amareshwar Temple, Dashnami Akhara Srinagar, the abode of holy mace on July 23 this year, Mahant Ji said.
After performing Chhari-Pujan at Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ falling on July 25, Mahant Deependra Giri Ji will carry the Holy Mace to Holy Shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji to have ‘Darshan’ on ‘Shravan-Purnima’, that falls on August 3. The day is also coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival.
Mahant Deependra Giri Ji has also advised Sadhus who intend to join Chhari-Mubarak Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2020 to check with his office before planning and starting from their hometown.
Mahadev Giri Dashnami Akhara Trust Srinagar will make all the arrangements like yester years for Sadhus coming from across the country for annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji for their food and comfortable stay at Akhara building, Budshah Chowk, Srinagar.
It may be recalled that Baba Amarnath and Buda Amarnath Yatri Niyas (BABAYN) had suggested to SASB in a recent meeting that this year that yatra be curtailed to two weeks only from July 21 to August 3 and only Baltal route be considered for the pilgrims keeping in view the challenges being faced by spread of COVID-19. Moreover, the Niyas had also suggested that pilgrims be taken by aerial route only in view of the threat of the Pandemic and the yatra be restricted after the age of 55 years.
However, Shri Amarnath Barfani Langer Organisation (SABLO) has demanded cancellation of yatra this year in view of COVID-19 threat. They had also submitted a memorandum to the Lt Governor who is the chairman of SASB in this regard.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
