Over 9,000 perform darshan Chhari Sthapana performed at Amareshwar temple

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 22: While 9,961 pilgrims performing darshan at holy cave of Swami Amarnath in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on 28th day of yatra today, the Vedic hymns and Bam Bam Bolay rented in the air in Shri Amareshwar temple at Akhara building Srinagar where ‘Chhari-Sthapana’ ceremony was performed.
The traditional ‘Chhari-Pujan’ would be performed tomorrow on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ at Dashnami Akhara.
The holy Mace, one depicting Lord Shiva and goddess Parvati would be kept in the Temple at Akhara Building, Maisuma, for ‘darshan’ till it will leave for holy cave on July 28.
Mahant Dependra Giri led Sadhus and other devotees to offer Pujan at the temple, which houses the Chhari Mubarak.
‘The True Trust’, founded by Mahant Giri  in year 2004, shall make all the necessary arrangements for sadhus and needy from the general public coming from across the country to join last journey of the Chhari-Mubarak to holy  cave.
Mahant Giri said Chhari-Mubarak commences its journey to Holy Shrine on July 28 at 0800 hrs from Dashnami Akhara for night halt at Pahalgam.
On the way to Pahalgam, Pujan will be performed at Sureshwar Temple here,  Shiv Temple at Pampore, Shiv Temple Bijbehara, ‘Martand-Tirth’ Mattan and Ganesh Temple across river Lidder, Ganeshbal and will have night halt at  Pahalgam.
Chhari-Mubarak will leave Pahalgam at 1400 hrs next day for night halt at Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional Pahalgam route.
It will start at 0700 hrs from Chandanwari for night halt at Sheshnag.
The holy mace will start at 0700 hrs from Sheshnag for night halt at Panchtarani.
It will proceed for cave shrine for pujan at 0500 hrs from Panchtarani.
Traditional rituals will be performed and prayers offered the whole day at the holy cave. However, before dusk, Chhari-Mubarak will start their return journey and will have night halt at Panchtarani.
From Panchtarani, Chhari-Mubarak will leave at 0700 hrs for night halt at Pahalgam.
‘Pujan’ and ‘Visarjan’ ceremonies will be performed at 0915 hrs on the bank of river Lidder in Pahalgam. Thereafter, traditional ‘Kari-Pakouri’ Bhandara will be organised for sadhus.
With this last ritual, annual pilgrimage of Swami Amarnath would culminate and Chhari-Mubarak will return to its Abode at Srinagar.
Meanwhile with the performance of darshan by a fresh batch of 9,961 pilgrims in the holy cave today the total number of yatris visiting the cave shrine at an altitude of 3,888 meters has reached 5,72,634 since the 39 day long yatra started on June 25, officials said. Till late last night 5.62 lakh had performed darshan in holy cave.
They said 2,945 pilgrims left via shortest Baltal track for holy cave while 3,551left from Nunwan-Pahalgam Base camp via traditional Chandanwari track.
The yatris who left via Baltal track started their return journey after performing darshan of Ice Lingam while those form Chnadanwari track will have a night haltage at Sheshnag and Panchtarni and perform darshan tomorrow or the day after tomorrow.
He said those yatris who had night halt at different halting stations en route also started their onward journey this morning while those who had had darshan started their return journey.
The weather was pleasant for the day, an official spokesman said.
A Met Department spokesman said that the sky will remain cloudy on both Baltal and Pahalgam tracks and there could be rain or thundershowers during the next 24  hours.
Officials said the yatra was going on smoothly and so far over 5.72 lakh pilgrims have offered prayers at the cave shrine housing the naturally formed Ice Shivlingam.
The yatra will conclude on Sawan Purnima falling on August 2 and coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
A fresh batch of 1,350 pilgrims left at around 0515 hrs for the Amarnath in a convoy of 53 vehicles from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here an official spokesman here said.

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