Chhari-Mubarak pooja calendar announced

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 15

The schedule for the holding of Chhari-Mubarak (holy mace of Lord Shiva) rituals for this year’s Amarnath yatra was announced on Monday.

Mahant Deependra Giri — the custodian of the holy mace — said ‘pooja’ will be performed at Pahalgam on Ashad-Purnima (Vyas-Purnima) on July 5.

Later, Charri will be carried to various Valley-based temples from July 5 to August 3.

“In case we continue to witness spike in cases in the weeks to come, then performing rituals connected with the annual pilgrimage at the holy cave or any other desired place will only be possible by taking the aerial route,” the mahant said when asked how rituals would be performed that usually take place at the Pahalgam-Panchtarni route of 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, 2020. 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, a curtailed Amarnath yatra is likely from July 21 to August 3.