Holy mace of Lord Shiva taken to Pahalgam

Srinagar, Jul 11: The silver mace of Lord Shiva was today taken to Pahalgam from here, the base camp of holy cave shrine of Amarnath, for Bhoomi pooja.

The mace was handed over to two sadhus by Mahant Deepender Giri, custodian of the mace, after performing pooja at Dashnami Akhara near here this morning.

Later, accompanied by Mahant Giri and other sadhus, the mace left for Pahalgam under unprecedented security arrangements.

Mahant Giri said Bhoomi pooja will be performed at Pahalgam before the mace will be taken to temple town of Mattan where other poojas of holy mace will be performed by the sadhus and other religious leaders.

He said the mace will be brought back here in the evening.

The Bhoomi pooja was a part of the two-month-long annual Amarnath pilgrimage which started on June 11 and will conclude on August 9, the Rakshabandhan day.

More than two lakh pilgrims from all over the country have so far visited the holy cave shrine from Baltal, shortest, and Pahalgam, the traditional routes.

About 27 yatris have so far lost their lives during the pilgrimage because of heart attack and other illness.

Jammu and Kashmir government expected more than five lakh yatris to undertake the pilgrimage this year.

UNI