Chhari Sthapana held at Amreshwar temple
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 31: As Chhari Mubarak of Shri Amarnath Ji is is all set to leave for cave shrine from its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar on August 7 on annual pilgrimage, ‘Chhari-Sthapana’ ceremony was performed with chanting of Vedic hymns at Shri Amreshwar temple, Akhara Building, Budshah Chowk, Srinagar this morning by Sadhus led by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji, its sole custodian.
Meanwhile, on 32nd day of pilgrimage, over 2400 yatris drawn from different parts of the country performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam at holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji situated at an altitude of 3880 meters above sea level in snow bound Himalayas in South Kashmiri’s Anantnag district today.
Officials said 2444 pilgrims visited the holy cave today from the twin tracks of Baltal at Nunwan by this evening. With this, a total number of 2, 81,138 pilgrims visited the cave shrine since the yatra started on June 30 this year. Till yesterday evening, 2,78,739 pilgrims have performed darshan of Ice Lingam in holy cave.
Officials said the rush of pilgrims has now considerably decreased and there is no rush at base camps of Nunwan -Pahalgam and Baltal.
Officials said 2706 pilgrims were staying at Baltal base camp overnight while 1214 left from there to holy cave this morning. Besides, 53 pilgrims were staying at Chandanwari camp last night while 2183 were staying at Panchtarni the last camp on way to cave shrine via Chandanwari track.
Officials said 656 pilgrims were staying at Nunwan base camp last night while 488 left from their towards holy cave early this morning.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 715 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for twin base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal under tight security arrangements in a cavalcade of 26 vehicles early this morning.
Among them, 331 pilgrims preferred longest 48 kilometer Nunwan -Chandanwari track while 384 opted for shortest 14 km Baltal track. These pilgrims will leave for holy cave from their respective base camps early tomorrow morning.
The weather in holy cave area was cloudy during the morning, officials said.
Meanwhile Chhari Sthapna Puja at Amreshwar temple Srinagar lasted for about two hours.
Chhari-Mubarak (Holy Mace), one depicting Lord Shiva and another Goddess Parvati will be kept in the temple at Akhara building Srinagar for darshan till it leaves for main course of pilgrimage on August 7.
Pilgrims and public in general will have the privilege to have darshan of Holy Mace kept in Shri Amreshwar temple Dashnami Akhara Srinagar, said Mahant Deependra Giri Ji Maharaj.
Traditional ‘Chhari-Pujan’ shall be performed on August 2 on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ (Shravan Shukla Paksha Panchami) at Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar, he added.
‘The True Trust’, founded by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji in year 2004, has made all the necessary arrangements like yester years for Sadhus and needy from the general public coming from across the country to join Chhari-Mubarak of Shri Amarnath Ji yatra for their food, tented accommodation and transportation during the annual pilgrimage.
The Chhari Mubarak which will leave Dashnami Akhara on August 7 after performing darshan at different temples and shrines enroute will have a two-day stay at Pahalgam before leaving for Chandanwari.
Meanwhile, two CRPF personnel were injured after a vehicle carrying them turned turtle at Sonamarg in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, officials said.
A vehicle belonging to 79 Battalion CRPF, escorting a yatra convoy turned turtle at By-Pass road Sonamarg, resulting in injuries to Deepak Kumar and Bitu Pan Dura of 160 Battalion.
The duo, they said, were shifted to PHC Sonamarg, from where Bitu Pan Dura was referred to SKIMS Soura, Srinagar for further treatment.
Confirming the incident, a police official said that both the injured personnel are stable as of now.
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