Srinagar: On Saturday, the sacred Chhari Mubarak—the saffron-clad holy mace of Lord Shiva—was carried to the Amarnath cave shrine for traditional prayers and rituals, marking the ceremonial end of this year’s annual pilgrimage, officials said.
After an overnight halt, the Chhari Mubarak departed Panchtarani camp in the morning, coinciding with the festival of Sharavan Purnima. Traditional pujas and rituals were performed amidst the chanting of Vedic hymns.
Special prayers, led by Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the holy mace, took place at the cave shrine, the officials added.
Following the aarti, the holy mace returned to Panchtarani for another night’s rest. On Sunday, it will proceed to Pahalgam, where pujan and visarjan ceremonies are scheduled for Monday along the banks of the Lidder River.
This year’s Amarnath Yatra saw over 414,000 pilgrims complete the journey, concluding on August 2 due to adverse weather and slippery paths.
In comparison, last year, approximately 510,000 devotees had the darshan of the naturally formed ice lingam at the sacred cave in the South Kashmir Himalayas.
