SRINAGAR:The age old traditional rituals connected with annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas will commence with ? Bhoomi-Pujan, Navgrah Pujan and Dhawajrohan? on the occasion of Ashad-Purnima on Friday at Pahalgam.
However, the Chhari Mubarak, the holy Silver Mace of Lord Shiva will commence its journey on August 25 to Cave Shrine, situated at 12500 feet in south Kashmir Himalayas, for final Pujan on August 29.
Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of Chhari Mubarak ? holy silver Mace of Lord Shiva? has said as per age old tradition, rituals Bhoomi-Pujan, Navgrah Pujan and Dhawajarohan connected with commencement of annual Yatra shall be performed at Pahalgam on auspicious occasion of Ashad-Purnima (Vyas-Purnima) that falls on July 31. The Chhari Mubarak will return to Dashnami Akhara same evening.
Concerned over the recent cloudburst at Baltal base camp and heavy rain, Mahant Giri has urged the authorities to put a contingency plan in place as there remains possibility of heavy downpour or snowfall during the period whenever Shravan-Purnima the day of main Darshan falls in fourth week of August.
In 2010 when Shravan-Purnima had fallen on August 26, sadhus and pilgrims accompanying Holy Mace had braved medium to heavy snowfall for about 4-5 hours from Poshpatri to Sheshnag on the way from Panjtarni to Pahalgam on August 27, and there was no arrangement in place to cope up with situation.
Recently, cloudburst struck at Baltal base camp in which four people were killed and about a dozen others were injured on Friday last week.
He said Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara Trust, Srinagar has made all the arrangements for Sadhus coming from across the country for annual pilgrimage for their food and comfortable stay at Akhara Building, Budshah Chowk, Srinagar. (AGENCIES)
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