Holy Mace leaves for last step of Amarnath yatra

Srinagar, Aug 4: The holy Mace of Lord Shiva today left for Pahalgam, the base camp for Amarnath cave, for the final phase of the two-month-long pilgrimage concluding on the occasion Sharavan Purnima.

Chanting the religious mantras and 'Har Har Mahadev,' the Mahanat Deepender Giri, accompanied by a large number of sadhus, left for Pahalgam with the 'holy Mace' under tight security arrangements for final phase of the yatra which commenced from July 11 for two months.

The holy Mace was taken in a vehicle to Pahalgam. In the pre- militancy days, the holy Mace was being taken in a procession shortly before sun-set and would halt for a night at Durganag before leaving for Pampore on foot next morning. There was also only one-day pooja in the cave shrine. However, with the killing of about 200 yatris in a snow storm in early nineties, the pilgrims undertake yatra just for one month to avoid such an incident.

However, for security reasons the holy Mace is now being taken direct to Pahalgam in a vehicle amid tight security arrangements.

Mahant Giri said that the holy Mace will rest at Pahalgam where 'pooja' will be conducted tonight and tomorrow.

It will be taken in a procession to second halting point at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtherni before leaving for the final darshan on August 9, the Sharavan Purnima( Rakshabandan Day).

The Mace will return to base camp Pahalgam same evening where pooja will be performed before bringing it back to Srinagar, Mahanat Giri, the custodian of the Mace told mediapersons here shortly before leaving for Pahalgam.

About 2.90 lakh pilgrims have so far had the 'darshan' of the holy icelingam in the cave shrine despite icelingam controversy and threat perception. However, the number of pilgrims this time is very less as compared to last year when more than 4.5 lakh pilgrims undertook the pilgrimage.

About 45 pilgrims from different parts of the country have died due to various reasons since the start of the pilgrimage. The yatra was suspended twice for few days because of snowfall and rains, making the track slippery and risky.

UNI