Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 22: The Chhari Mubarak performed the darshan and annual Pujan at holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji situated at an altitude of 3300 metres in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag today.
As the Chhari Mubarak led by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji Maharaj of Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar reached the holy cave with the chanting of Bum Bum Bholey. The Sadhus performed the Pujan and other religious rituals in the holy cave in a traditional way and prayed to Lord Shiva to rid the people of the dreaded COVID pandemic which has taken the entire globe in its grip for last two years.
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The Sadhus also prayed for the peace of the J&K UT and well being and prosperity of entire mankind all over the globe as per the basic tenets of Hinduism. After performing Puja for the day, the holy mace left for Pahalgam where after a night halt it will perform the immersion ceremonies and other rituals tomorrow before leaving for its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.
Mahant Deependra Giri Ji besides the Sadhus was joined in the Puja by Chief Executive Officer, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) Nitishwar Kumar, Additional CEO, Anup Kumar Soni, District Development Commissioner Ganderbal and other officers of CRPF, police and civil administration.
Earlier, holy mace depicting Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati was taken to cave shrine in a special chopper from its abode Amreshwar temple, Mahadev Gir, Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar in the morning by Mahant Deepndra Giri Ji who was accompanied by a group of Sadhus for its final sojourn to cave shrine for Darshan.
Mahant Ji talking to Excelsior said that like last year this year too the yatra was cancelled due to COVID pandemic by the Government which as per the earlier schedule was to be held for 56 days. He expressed hope that the COVID pandemic will be over by next year and the yatra will continue as yesteryears in a traditional way.
He however, said that the Chhari Mubarak performed all the rituals concerning the annual pilgrimage this year which included Bhoomi Pujan at Pahalgam, performance of Puja at Sun temple of Mattan, Shankaracharya temple, Srinagar, Hari Parbat, Shrine of Goddess Durga at Srinagar, followed by Chhari Sathapana at Dashnami Akhara on August 11 and Chhari Pujan at Amreshwar temple on August 13 -the day of Naag Panchami.
He said earlier the holy mace was taking the traditional route by foot from Dashnami Akhara on Naag Panchami every year a tradition set for centuries together and after night halts at different shrines enroute it used to reach the cave shrine in the wee hours of Shravan Purnima to perform darshan there.
Meanwhile, an SASB spokesperson said that Puja to mark the closing ceremony of the annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji, on Shravan Purnima was held today morning amid chanting of religious hymns and Mantras. Nitishwar Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, SASB and Anup Kumar Soni, Additional CEO, SASB prayed for the sustained peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the Union Territory of J&K.
He said SASB facilitated the carriage of holy Mace (Pavitra Chhari) to the Cave Shrine of Amarnathji. Deependra Giri, Mahant Chhari-Mubarak Amarnathji led the Chhari Yatra accompanied by saints of Dashnami Akhara and held the Chhari Pujan to mark the conclusion of Yatra 2021.
He said earlier this year, the annual pilgrimage of Amarnath ji was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic, but Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board carried out all traditional religious rituals at the Amarnathji cave. SASB made arrangements for the live telecast of morning and evening Aarti on TV Channels and social media in addition to facilitating virtual Puja, Hawan and Online Prasad booking. Seven to eight million devotees had the free virtual darshan on Jio TV platform through live streaming on Shri Amarnathji Channel. All these steps kept the religious sentiments of the devotees alive.
The CEO was accompanied by Charu Sinha, IG CRPF Srinagar sector, Kritika Jyotsana, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, Rahul Pandey, Director Information & Public Relation Department, Atul Kumar, Camp Director holy cave, R K Bhat, General Manager and other senior officers of SASB, Army, CRPF, Civil and Police administration.
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