Avtar Bhat
SRINAGAR, July 27: Over 3.40 lakh pilgrims have paid their obeisance in holy cave of Swami Amarnath in last 30 days of pilgrimage since the 44 day long yatra to cave shrine in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag started on June 28.
According to an official spokesman 4,446 pilgrims paid obeisance to Icy Lingam on 30th day of darshan today. With this the total number of pilgrims performing darshan in last one moth has touched 3,41,349.
There was rain last night but the weather is pleasant today and pilgrimage was going on smoothly, spokesman said.
He said that fresh batches of pilgrims, including women and Sadhus left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the holy cave early this morning.
He said 2853 pilgrims left for holy cave from Baltal base camp early this morning. Out of them 923 left by chopper while others left by foot. Besides, 2045 pilgrims left from Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp to holy cave early this morning.
Pilgrims, who left Baltal will reach the cave shrine this afternoon, he said, adding that majority of them will start return journey after the darshan at the shrine. However, those, who had night halt after darshan till last evening, have also started their return journey to base camp this morning.
He said the, pilgrims, who left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp this morning, will have night halt at Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional route. The pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting stations on traditional route, also started their journey towards the cave shrine, this morning under tight security, he added.
However, those pilgrims who had reached Panjterni till last evening, reached the cave shrine this morning and paid obeisance.
The spokesman said a fresh batch of 599 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Yatri Niwas for holy cave early this morning in a cavalcade of 18 vehicles under tight security. They included 294 male, 103 female, two children and 200 Sadhus.
All these pilgrims had reached their respective destinations in Kashmir Valley when last reports came in where from they will leave for their onwards sojourn early tomorrow morning, the spokesman added.
Meanwhile, in connection with Swami Amarnath Ji annual yatra, Chhari-Mubarak, holy mace of Lord Shiva led by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji was taken to ancient ‘Sharika-Bhawani’ Temple, Hari Parvat, in Srinagar city today to pay obeisance to the Goddess on the occasion of ‘Shravan Shukla Paksha Pradipada’, as per age-old traditions.
Goddess ‘Sharika-Bhawani’ popularly known as ‘Tripursundari’, amongst the mystics is believed to be ‘Isht Devi’ (Presiding Deity) of the Srinagar city who manifested herself in a figure of ‘Shila’ (Holy Rock) at Hari-Parvat. It is believed that with the manifestation of naturally formed Shrichakra on the Shila the holy rock, the city was named as Srinagar.
Sadhus, who participated in the Pujan, also prayed for everlasting peace in State of Jammu & Kashmir.
After ‘Chhari-Sthapana’ on July 30, holy mace will be kept in Shri Amareshwar Temple, Akhara building, Budshah Chowk, Srinagar for ‘Darshan’ till it leaves for main course of pilgrimage on August 16.
Traditional ‘Chhari-Pujan’ will be performed on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ which falls on Friday the August 1, at Shri Amareshwar Temple, Akhara building, Budshah Chowk, Srinagar.
Follow our WhatsApp channel