Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 26: The Chhari Mubarak, the Saffron robbed holy mace of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati led by its sole custodian, Swami Deependra Giri Ji Maharaj left for cave shrine of Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir district of Anantnag from historical Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar early this morning amid chanting of ‘Bum Bum Bhole’ by devotees and Sadhus present on the occasion.
Prior to leaving for its final course of pilgrimage Puja and other religious rituals were performed by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji and Sadhus at Dashnami Akhara in a traditional way. Tight security arrangements were made by the authorities on the occasion and the holy mace was also escorted by the jawans of security forces.
Speaking on the occasion, Mahant Deependra Giri Ji said that on its way to holy shrine the Puja will be performed at Someshwar temple Srinagar, Pampore, Bijbehara, Sun temple of Mattan and Ganeshbal in Pahalgam today.
He said the holy mace will have two night halts at Pahalgam and on August 28 it will leave for Chandanwari. On August 29, the holy mace will stay at Sheshnag, on August 30 it will stay at Panchtarni and in the morning of August 31 it will reach cave shrine to pay obeisance there and perform Puja and other rituals. Swami Ji said the holy mace on the same evening will return to Panchtarni, the last transit camp on way to holy cave. After a night stay at Panchtarni, it will leave for Pahalgam on September 1. Next day the immersion ceremony will be performed in the river Lidder at Pahalgam and the Sadhus and other devotees will be served prashad before leaving for Dashnami Akhara Srinagar on the bank of river to keep the ancient tradition alive.
On way to holy cave the Chhari Mubarak was given a grand welcome at Mattan where hundreds of devotees received it with chanting of religious slogans. Puja was performed in the Sun temple of Mattan in a traditional way and the Management Committee of the shrine led by Ashok Sidha had made all arrangements for the devotees who were also served Prashad after Puja.
It may be recalled that on August 24, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha performed Puja of holy mace at Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar and sought the blessings of Lord Shiva and prayed for peace, prosperity, happiness and well-being of all, an official spokesman said.
Mahant Deependra Giri, was also present on the occasion.
Earlier the ‘Chhari-Pujan’ was performed on the auspicious occasion of ‘Shravan Shukla Panchami’ which is an important ritual prior to the culmination of the annual pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas.
Mahant Ji said arrangements have been made for live streaming of Pujan that shall be performed at all night halts enroute to holy shrine of Amarnath Ji. In case there is issue with connectivity, recorded video shall be uploaded at https://www.youtube.com/@mdgir.
He said the True Trust led by him has also made all the arrangements of food and shelter for the pilgrims and devotees accompanying the holy mace.
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