JAMMU/SRINAGAR: A small batch of 56 pilgrims today left for the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas from here, meanwhile ‘ Chhari Mubarak’, holy Silver Mace of Lord Shiva early this morning left for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional track from Pahalgam after a night halt there.
The Mace, carried by Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of holy Mace, reached Pahalgam last evening from Srinagar after organising pujan at different shrines, including at Durga Nag, Sureshwar temple, Shiv temple Pampore, Shiv temple Bijbehara, Martand-Tirth Mattan, Ganesh temple across river Lidder at Ganeshbal.
At Martand-Tirth Mattan, hundreds of devotees received the Mace.
The Charri left for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional route, after night halt at Pahalgam on the occasion of ‘ Ekadashi-Dwadashi’. Tomorrow, on the occasion of ‘ Dwadashi-Tryodashi,’ Chhari will leave from Chandanwari for Sheshanag for a night halt there.
Mahant Giri said on August 9 on the occasion of ‘ Tryodashi-Chaturdashi,’ Chhari will leave Sheshnag for a night halt at Panjtarni.
Finally the Chhari will be taken to holy Cave shrine in the morning of August 10 from Panjtarni for a final Pujan, marking the end of annual 45-day-long pilgrimage this year on the occasion of Sharavan Purnima. Mahant Giri said the Chhari will return to its abode at Dashnami Akhara on August 12 after organising traditional pujan and other rituals on way back from holy Cave. “We will pray for world peace, particularly in Jammu and Kashmir, at the cave shrine,” Mahant Giri said shortly before leaving from the shrine, where large number of devotees, including Central government officials, Kashmiri pandits and security force personnel were present to have the glimpse of the Mace, which will reach the cave shrine on August 10 on the occasion of Rakshabandhan. He thanked everybody, particularly the people of Kashmir and said without their cooperation, yatra would not have been successful.
The Silver Mace commenced its final journey of yatra-2014 to holy cave yesterday at 0800 hrs in vehicles under heavy security arrangements.
Meanwhile, a convoy of four vehicles carrying the 42nd batch of pilgrims, including 49 men and 7 women left from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu at 4:20 AM, police said.
The convoy has already crossed Kud on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and would reach their destinations at Baltal and Pahalgam base camps by this evening, they said.
With today’s batch, a total of 54,202 pilgrims have left Jammu base camp for Amarnath so far. Today’s batch is the smallest so far.
Meanwhile, another batch of 621 pilgrims left for Budha Amarnath shrine in Poonch district in a cavalcade of 19 vehicles from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu city.
A total of 3.7 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine since the commencement of the 45-day-long yatra from June 28.
The pilgrimmage will conclude on August 10 when Chhari Mubarak, Silve Mace of Lord Shiva will be taken inside the cave shrine.
Fresh batches of pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left base camp Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camp early this morning for the cave shrine.
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