Sinha prays for peace, prosperity in J&K
Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 13: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha today performed Shri Amarnathji Chhari Mubarak pujan on Shravan Shukal Panchami in presence of Deependra Giri ji, Mahant Chhari Mubarak Shri Amarnathji at Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara here.
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While performing the Chhari Mubarak Pujan, Sinha prayed for sustained peace, prosperity in J&K, and well-being of its people.
The holy Mace will leave for its next destination and reach the holy cave of Shri Amarnathji via Pahalgam route following the Chhari Mubarak Yatra tradition. The traditional Chhari pujan began on Vyas Purnima on July 24 at Pahalgam where Bhoomi Pujan and Dhwajarohan ceremonies were held.
Pertinently, keeping in view the pandemic this year arrangements were made for the virtual puja, hawan & online prasad booking through various online services of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. The Board has also arranged for a live telecast of morning and evening Aarti from the holy cave of Lord Shiva, both on TV and digital platforms.
The Online services can be booked through Amarnathji Shrine Board’s website www.shriamarnathjishrine.com by clicking Book Online Pooja/Hawan/Prasad link & through the Board’s Mobile application (which may be downloaded through the link https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ncog.shriamarnath).
The Lt Governor has recently laid foundation stone of an office-cum-Yatri Niwas of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board at Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, which would provide best-in-class facilities accommodating more than 3000 pilgrims. The UT Government is planning to construct Yatri Niwas in various parts of the UT.
Nitishwar Kumar, Chief Executive officer of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, and Anup Kumar Soni, Additional CEO SASB were present during the Chhari Mubarak Pujan.
A selected gathering of Sadhus and devotees attended the Pujan which was performed in a traditional way. Prayers for sustained peace, prosperity in J&K and well being of people were held on the occasion by the Mahant Ji and other Sadhus.
Speaking to media, Mahant Ji said the holy mace will leave for cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji situated at an altitude of 3350 meters in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag by aerial route on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival falling on August 22.
The holy Mace will return on the same day to its abode in Dashnami Akhara Srinagar after performing Pujan at cave shrine, he added.
He said this is the second year in a row when holy Mace will be taken to cave shrine through aerial route due to COVID pandemic as the yatra was cancelled this year too after the alarming rise of the Coronavirus cases across the country.
He said after reaching holy shrine on August 22, he and other Sadhus will hold special prayers so that the mankind is relieved of this dreaded pandemic.
Mahant Ji expressed hope that next year the yatra will go as per routine as he is hopeful that by this year end all the people across the country would have been vaccinated and the threat of pandemic will be over and people as usual will participate in the holy pilgrimage.
Mahant Deependra Giri while highlighting the significance of Chhari Pujan on the occasion of Nag Panchmi referred to Bhringish Sanhita, an ancient religious scripture of Kashmir and said that yatra was leaving from Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar on the occasion of Nag Panchmi every year and pilgrims were going via foot taking the Pahalgam-Chandanwari route.
He said as per the Bhringish Sanhita written by Bringesh Reshi disturbance was created at Pissu Top by some force called Pissu and the devotees including Devatas worshipped Lord Shiva to get relieved of the disturbance created in the way of their pilgrimage. The Lord asked them to perform Chhari Pujan at Amriteshwar temple Dashnami Akhara on Naag Panchmi and they will be relieved of all the difficulties in way of their pilgrimage. Since then, the tradition started for Chhari Mubarak Pujan on Nag Panchmi and it continued till date.
He said earlier yatra used to leave by foot on this date from Dashnami Akhara after Chhari Mubarak Pujan and the pilgrims used to stay for one night at Pampore, later at Awantipora followed by Bijbehara, Anantnag, Mattan, Aashmuqam, Pahalgam ,Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni where from early on the occasion of Shravan Puranmashi holy mace started its final journey towards cave shrine to perform Pujan there.
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