Jammu: The age-old rituals associated with the annual Amarnath Yatra formally began on Wednesday with the sacred ‘Chhari Mubarak’ of Lord Shiva being taken to Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district for the traditional bhoomipujan ceremony.
The saffron-robed silver mace, considered a symbolic representation of Lord Shiva, was taken from its abode at Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar to the Gauri Shankar Temple at Pahalgam, where the bhoomipujan ritual will be performed.
A group of sadhus led by Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the holy mace, proceeded towards Pahalgam while chanting Vedic hymns.
Giri said that after the rituals, the holy mace would return to Srinagar later in the day and would stop at the historic Martand Temple in Mattan for a holy bath as part of the traditional proceedings.
Expressing satisfaction over the progress of this year’s pilgrimage, Mahant Deependra Giri said more than 4.25 lakh pilgrims have undertaken the Yatra so far.
The 57-day annual pilgrimage, which began on July 3, will conclude on August 28 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
Meanwhile, another batch of 2,051 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the Amarnath shrine amid multi-tier security arrangements.
The 22nd batch of pilgrims departed from the Jammu base camp around 2:45 am in 82 vehicles towards the Baltal route.
The group included 369 women, two children and 30 foreign nationals, officials said.
With the departure of the latest batch, the total number of pilgrims who have left the Jammu base camp for the pilgrimage has reached 1,32,406.
Officials said no pilgrims travelled through the traditional Pahalgam route as the route remains suspended due to repair work.
Officials said more than 4.36 lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at the naturally formed ice lingam of Lord Shiva at the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine.
The Yatra resumed on July 25 after remaining suspended for six days from July 19 to July 24 due to adverse weather conditions.
Authorities have maintained extensive security arrangements along the pilgrimage routes, with multiple agencies deployed to ensure the safe and smooth movement of devotees.
The pilgrimage will continue till August 28, when the annual festivities will conclude with the traditional celebrations of Raksha Bandhan.
