Chhari-Sthapana ceremony performed in Srinagar

Srinagar, Aug 13: “Chhari-Sthapan” ceremony was on Monday performed at Shri Amareshwar temple in the summer capital, Srinagar.

Meanwhile, over 2.78 lakh pilgrims from different parts of the country had paid obeisance at the cave shrine since the commencement of the 60-day-long pilgrimage from both traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal routes from June 28. The final darshan will be held on August 26.

Associated with the annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, Chhari-Sthapana of Chhari-Mubarak, holy Mace of Lord Shiva, was performed by chanting Vedic hymn at Shri Amareshwar Temple on Monday by a group of Sadhus, led by Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of the Chhari. It took more than two hours completing the rituals.

Chhari-Mubarak (Holy Mace), one depicting Lord Shiva and another Goddess Parvati, shall be kept in the Temple at Akhara Building Srinagar for ‘Darshan’ till it leaves for main course of pilgrimage on August 20.

Pilgrims and public in general have the privilege to have ‘Darshan’ of Holy Mace kept in Shri Amareshwar Temple Dashnami Akhara Srinagar.

Traditional ‘Chhari-Pujan’ shall be performed on Wednesday on the occasion of ‘Nag-Panchami’ (Shravan Shukla Paksha Panchami) at Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.

‘The True Trust’, founded by Mahant Giri in 2004, has made all the necessary arrangements like food, accommodation and transportation for the Sadhus and worshippers, who will congregate from across the country to join Chhari-Mubarak during the annual pilgrimage.