Shadow Correspondent
Srinagar, july 24:
Chhari Mubarak — the saffron-robed holy mace of Lord Shiva – was taken to the historic Shankaracharya temple here on Thursday for special prayers on the occasion of ‘Haryali-Amavasya’ (Shravan Amavasya) as per age-old customs.
The Chhari Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji led by Mahant Deependra Giri was taken to the temple located at Gopadri hills for prayers as part of the ongoing annual Amarnath Yatra.
Giri, the custodian of the mace, said the Chhari Mubarak was taken from its abode at Dashnami Akhara near Lal Chowk here to the temple where a ‘pujan’ was held.
The sound of conch shells charged the atmosphere and ‘pujan’ was performed chanting vedic hymns, he said.
The sadhus, who accompanied the holy mace, participated in the pooja as collective prayers were also offered for peace and prosperity of Jammu and Kashmir, Giri added.
He informed that Chhari Mubarak will also be taken to ‘Sharika-Bhawani’ temple, Hari Parbat here to pay obeisance to the goddess on Friday.
The rituals would be performed for Chhari-Sthapana at Amareshwar temple Dashnami Akhara here on Sunday after which Chhari-Pujan will be performed at the akhara on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ on Tuesday, he said.
The Mahant will carry the holy mace to the holy cave shrine to perform pujan and have ‘darshan’ on the morning of
Lord Shiva’s Holy
‘Shravan-Purnima’ on August 9 after night halts at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarani.
The puja at the cave shrine will be followed by ‘visarjan’ in Lidder river at Pahalgam the next day.
Meanwhile, A fresh batch of 3,500 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here on Thursday to offer prayers at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the Anantnag district, officials said.
The 22nd batch of pilgrims, comprising 2,704 men, 675 women, 12 children and 109 sadhus and sadhvis, left the base camp in two convoys of 140 vehicles for Pahalgam and Baltal under tight security.
While 2,668 pilgrims left for Pahalgam in a convoy of 95 vehicles, 832 pilgrims left in a convoy of 45 vehicles via the Baltal route.
With this, 1,33,878 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for Kashmir since July 2, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch.
Since the 38-day annual Amarnath Yatra commenced on July 3, over 3.40 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high shrine housing a naturally formed ice shivlingam.
Last year, over 5.10 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine.
The pilgrimage will conclude on August 9, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
