SRINAGAR, Aug 22: The sacred Chhari Mubarak of Lord Shiva left the Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar on Saturday after traditional prayers and rituals, formally beginning its journey towards Pahalgam as part of the annual Amarnath pilgrimage.
The holy mace will make customary halts at traditional stopovers along the route, where religious rituals and symbolic prayers will be performed before it reaches the Amarnath cave shrine.
Custodian of the Chhari Mubarak, Mahant Deependra Giri, said the procession would reach Pahalgam after offering symbolic prayers at the traditional halting points.
“We are setting out on the main pilgrimage from the Dashnami Akhara. Today, we will rest in Pahalgam after performing symbolic prayers at the traditional stopovers along the way,” Giri said.
According to the schedule, the Chhari Mubarak will halt at Chandanwari on August 24 and at Sheshnag on August 25.
It will then proceed to Panchtarni, where it will stay for two nights on August 26 and 27.
“Then, on the morning of the 28th, on Raksha Bandhan, we will take the holy Chhari Mubarak to the holy cave,” Giri said.
He said the sacred mace would be installed at the cave shrine amid traditional prayers and Vedic chanting, after which the procession would return to Panchtarni for the night.
The Chhari Mubarak will leave Panchtarni on August 29 and travel back via Sheshnag and Chandanwari to Pahalgam.
On August 30, prayers and Visarjan rituals will be performed, marking the conclusion of the ceremonial journey.
