Finance
Over 15,000 Yatris had ‘Darshan’ inside the famous Amarnath cave sanctuary on Monday, as Swami Deependra Giri, guardian of Lord Shiva’s holy mace (Chhari Mubarak), declared the start of traditional prayers/journey on Tuesday.
Swami Deependra Giri told reporters that ‘Bhoomi-Pujan’, ‘Navgrah Pujan’, and ‘Dhawajarohan’ associated with the traditional start of Shri Amarnathji’s annual pilgrimage of Chhari-Mubarak will be performed at Pahalgam on the auspicious occasion of ‘Ashad-Purnima’ (Vyas-Purnima), which falls on July 21 (Sunday).
Swami Deependra Giri announced the yearly program of holy mace, saying that according to the age-old tradition rituals, Chhari-Mubarak will be carried to the historic Shankaracharya Temple in Srinagar city on August 4 and Sharika Bhawani Temple on August 5, before rites are done for Chhari-Sthapana at Shri Amareshwar Temple Dashnami Akhara Srinagar on August 7.
He stated that after performing Chhari-Pujan at Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar on the auspicious occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ on August 9, he will carry the holy Mace to Swami Amarnathji Cave shrine to perform Pujan and have ‘Darshan’ on the auspicious occasion of ‘Shravan-Purnima’, which falls on August 19, after having night halts at Pahalgam on August 14 and 15, Chandanwari on August 16, Sheshnag on August 17, and Panchtarani on August 18.
Swami Deependra Giri has urged the government to make all necessary arrangements to preserve age-old traditions, ensure the movement of Chhari-Mubarak on time, and implement all appropriate preventive measures for the safety and security of the Sadhus and pilgrims accompanying the holy mace.
He said a communication has been sent to the government in this regard so that appropriate steps are taken and arrangements are made for the Sadhus and pilgrims accompanying holy mace to the cave shrine.
He advised Sadhus and members of civil society to get themselves registered who intend to join Chhari-Mubarak and stated that only registered Sadhus/pilgrims with valid Yatra permits will be allowed to accompany Chhari-Mubarak during the pilgrimage.
Another batch of 4132 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu on Tuesday for the Valley in two escorted convoys.
The cave shrine contains an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes in accordance with the moon’s phases. Devotees think that the ice stalagmite structure represents Lord Shiva’s mythological abilities.
The cave is located 3,888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas. Devotees can visit the cave shrine via the traditional south Kashmir Pahalgam route or the north Kashmir Baltal way.
The Pahalgam-Cave shrine axis is 48 kilometers long, and it takes Yatris 4-5 days to visit the shrine. The Baltal-Cave shrine axis is 14 kilometers long, and it takes pilgrims one day to complete ‘Darshan’ and return to the base camp.
On Tuesday, 4434 Yatris departed Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in two escorted convoys for the Valley.
The first escorted convoy, comprising 1721 pilgrims in 64 vehicles, left at 3 a.m. for the north Kashmir Baltal base camp. At 3.35 a.m., the second escorted convoy, carrying 2713 pilgrims in 101 vehicles, set out for the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp in south Kashmir.
This year’s Yatra will end after 52 days on August 29, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivities.
Source:IANS
