Srinagar, Aug 12 (KNO): The traditional rituals marking the final phase of the annual Amarnath Yatra began in Srinagar on Wednesday with the holy Chhari Mubarak, the sacred mace of Lord Shiva, taken to the historic Shankaracharya Temple for special prayers.
The Chhari Mubarak, led by its custodian Mahant Deependra Giri, was taken to the hilltop temple as part of the traditional rituals associated with the annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), special prayers were offered at the temple amid the chanting of Vedic hymns and blowing of conch shells, with sadhus accompanying the holy mace participating in the rituals.
The rituals at Shankaracharya Temple mark an important stage in the traditional Chhari Mubarak pilgrimage, which will continue with a visit to the Sharika Bhawani Temple at Hari Parbat on August 13.
The holy mace will then be taken to the Amareshwar Temple at the Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar, where Chhari-Sthapana rituals are scheduled for August 15, followed by Chhari-Pujan on August 17, on the occasion of Nag Panchami.
The main traditional journey of the Chhari Mubarak towards the Amarnath cave shrine is scheduled to begin from Srinagar on August 22. The holy mace will make night halts at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni before reaching the cave shrine for pujan and darshan on August 28, coinciding with Shravan Purnima—(KNO)