Over 4800 perform darshan at holy cave
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 7: On the 40th day of pilgrimage, over 4800 yatris drawn from different parts of country paid obeisance at holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji situated in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag at an altitude of 3888 metes from sea level while Chhari -Sathapna ceremony of holy mace of Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvati was performed in a traditional way at Amreshwar temple in Dashnami Akhara Srinagar today by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji and Sadhus.
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Officials said 4861 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave from Baltal track and special chopper services by this evening taking the total number of Yatris visiting the Himalayan cave to 504966 in last 40 days since the 52-day long yatra started on June 29 from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam.
Officials said the pilgrims after performing the darshan at cave shrine have started their return journey towards Baltal track.
Meanwhile, the Chhari-Sathapana ceremony for the Chhari Mubarak — the Saffron-robed holy mace of Lord Shiva — was performed on Wednesday amidst Vedic chants and ringing of conch shells at Amreshwar temple Dashnami Akhara here, today.
In connection with the annual pilgrimage of Chhari-Mubarak Swami Amarnathji, the ‘Chhari-Sthapana’ ceremony was performed with the chanting of Vedic hymns at Shri Amareshwar Temple located at Dashnami Akhara Trust building, Budshah Chowk, by a group of Sadhus led by Mahant Deependra Giri, the sole custodian of Chhari Mubarak.
The Puja lasted for about two hours, Mahant Deependra Giri said.
Chhari-Mubarak, one depicting Lord Shiva and another Goddess Parvati, shall be kept in the temple at Akhara Building here for ‘darshan’ till it leaves for pilgrimage on August 14.
Pilgrims and the public in general can have a ‘darshan’ of the holy mace kept in the temple located at Dashnami Akhara here from 10:15 am to 12:15 pm.
Traditional ‘Chhari-Pujan’ would be performed on Friday August 9 on the occasion of ‘Nag Panchami’ (Shravan Shukla Paksha Panchami) at Dashnami Akhara here.
The ‘Pujan’ will be streamed live and devotees can participate in the ‘Pujan’ virtually as well.
‘The True Trust’, founded by Mahant Deependra Giri in 2004, has made all the necessary arrangements for food, tented accommodation and transportation during the annual pilgrimage.
‘The True Trust’, founded by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji in year 2004, has made all the necessary arrangements for Sadhus and the devotees coming from across the country to join Chhari-Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji Yatra for their food, tented accommodation and transportation during the annual pilgrimage.
Talking to media persons, Mahant Deependra Giri Ji highlighted the age old religious significance of holy Amarnath Ji pilgrimage. He in response to a question that the Shivlingam was not visible this year as it used to be said that it is all the divine will and he will not make any comment on the same.
He said many things are stated to be the cause for melting of Ice Shivlingam and some attribute it to Global warming while other highest number of devotees visiting the holy cave but to me it is the divine will.
He said the highest record number of 6.35 lakh pilgrims had visited the holy cave during 2012. During that year when he reached the holy cave along with Chhari Mubarak, he saw Shivlingam in full appearance after 16 years gap on Shravan Purnima during that year.
Regarding the bettering of arrangements for the pilgrims this year including widening of track, Mahant Ji said during previous year 4.45 lakh pilgrims had performed darshan at holy cave while so far the number has crossed five lakh. This shows that administration and Shri Amarnath Shrine Board took keen interest in bettering facilities and creating infrastructure.
The annual 52-day-long Amarnath yatra began on June 29 from the twin routes of traditional Nunwan Pahalgam in South Kashmir and Baltal Ganderbal will culminate on August 19, coinciding with Hindu festivals of Shravan Purnima and the Raksha Bandhan.
The authorities on Tuesday suspended the yatra from the traditional Nunwan -Pahalgam axis for carrying the necessary repairs to the route damaged due to recent rainfall.
More than 5 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the Kashmir Himalayas so far.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 635 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here towards the Baltal base camp in a cavalcade of 22 light and heavy vehicles under tight security measures early this morning.
All these pilgrims have reached their destination by this evening wherefrom they will leave towards holy cave early tomorrow morning. Officials said this is the lowest batch of pilgrims leaving for holy cave from here since the first batch of Yatris was flagged off on June 28.
Officials said the Yatris who had reached Baltal base camp yesterday also left for holy cave early this morning.
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