Amarnath Yatra: Mahant announces Chhari-Mubarak pooja calendar
M Aamir Khan
Tribune News Service
Srinagar, June 15
The schedule for the Chhari-Mubarak rituals (holy mace of Lord Shiva) for this year’s Amarnath Yatra has been announced.
Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the holy mace, said pooja will be performed at Pahalgam in South Kashmir on the auspicious occasion of ‘Ashad-Purnima’ (Vyas-Purnima) on July 5. Pahalgam serves as the traditional yatra route.
Later, Charri will be carried to various Valley-based temples from July 5 to August 3. The Mahant said religious ceremonies will be low-key due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“In case we continue to witness a spike in cases in the weeks to come, then performing rituals connected with annual pilgrimage at the Holy Cave or any other desired place would only be possible taking aerial route,” the Mahant said when asked how rituals would be performed that usually take place at the Pahalgam-Panchtarni route to the cave shrine.
Giving details of the Chhari-Mubarak pooja at other temples, the Mahant said: “If the situation allows, Chhari-Mubarak shall be taken to historic Shankracharya Temple on July 20 and Sharika Bhawani Temple on July 21 before rituals are performed for Chhari-Sthapana at Shri Amareshwar Temple Dashnami Akhara Srinagar on July 23. After pooja on July 25 at Dashnami Akara, the holy mace will reach the Holy Shrine on ‘Shravan-Purnima’, August 3.”
Due to the coronavirus outbreak, the Amarnath Yatra will be curtailed to July 21 to August 3.
