Chhari Mubarak taken to Sharika Bhawani temple in Srinagar for annual prayers
Amarnath Yatra suspended for Monday
Srinagar: Chhari Mubarak, the holy mace of Swami Amarnathji, was taken to historic Sharika Bhawani temple atop the Hari Parvat Fort here for prayers on the occasion of ‘Shravan Shukla Paksha Pratipada’ on Monday.
Sizable number of sadhus and devotees participated in the prayers that lasted for about two hours, Dashnami Akhara, the permanent abode of the Holy Mace, said in a statement.
“In connection with the annual Swami Amarnath Ji Yatra-2024, Chhari-Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji, led by Mahant Deependra Giri ji, was taken to ancient ‘Sharika Bhawani’ Temple, Hari Parvat, Srinagar today to pay obeisance to the goddess on the occasion of ‘Shravan Shukla Paksha Pratipada’, as per the age-old traditions,” it said.
“The goddess, ‘Sharika-Bhawani’, popularly known as ‘Tripursundari’ and ‘Chakareshwari Devi’ 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,” the statement read.
It said the Chhari-Sthapana ceremony will be performed on Wednesday at Shri Amareshwar Temple Akhara building here and traditional ‘Chhari-Pujan’ shall be performed on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ that falls on Friday.
The Chhari Mubarak is scheduled to leave on August 14 for the holy cave shrine of Amarnath situated at an altitude of 13,500 feet in south Kashmir from Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar for the main course of pilgrimage.
“The traditional pujan and rituals shall be performed on the auspicious occasion of ‘Shravan-Purnima’ on 19th of August, this year,” it added.
Meanwhile, no fresh batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims was allowed to leave the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here for Kashmir as a precautionary measure in view of the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370 on Monday, officials said.
More than 4.90 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine so far this year.
“The yatra has been halted for the day as a precautionary measure. No fresh batch was allowed from Jammu to Kashmir today,” an officer told PTI.
This step has been taken by the administration in view of the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370. Security has been beefed up in the city, the officials said.
On August 5, 2019, the Centre abrogated Article 370 of the Constitution, which accorded a special status to the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir, and divided it into two union territories — Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
The Amarnath Yatra commenced on June 29 and will conclude on August 19.
Press Trust of India
