15,000 yatries leaves for Amarnath cave shrine

Jammu, Aug 7: The ''holy mace'' (chhadi mubaraq) of Lord Shiva, accompanied by more than 15,000 pilgrims, left Poonch city base camp for Buddha Amarnath cave at Mandi, 20 Km from city, this morning.

Official sources said here today, the final phase of the 11-day-long pilgrimage will conclude tomorrow, marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage on the eve of Sawan Purnima.

Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) sources said Dashnami Akhada of Haridwar has nominated a priest to carry the holy mace to Buddha Amarnath cave. VHP's Jammu and Kashmir president Ramakant Dubey, Bajrang Dal's national convenor Prakash Sharma have also joined the pilgtrims.

Officials told the sources from Poonch city the procession of 15,000 devotees, accompanied by thousands of sadhus left the Poonch city today at 1045 hrs.

UNI