Amid tight security arrangements, the traditional Chhadi Mubarak puja of the holy Amarnath Yatra was performed on Wednesday at the historic Shankaracharya Temple atop a hillock in Srinagar. Led by Mahant Deependra Giri, the ceremony witnessed the participation of numerous sadhus, saints, and devotees who gathered from various states across the country. Sacred chants of Har Har Mahadev and Bam Bam Bhole echoed through the temple complex during the ritual, marking a significant milestone ahead of the final ceremony scheduled at the holy Amarnath cave on August 28.
Customs at Dashnami Akhada and Sharika Devi Temple
In accordance with age-old traditions, the holy mace is brought to key religious shrines in Srinagar before commencing its final pilgrimage toward the cave shrine. Prior to the rituals at Shankaracharya Temple, special prayers were held at the Shiva Temple located within the premises of Dashnami Akhada in Srinagar. Continuing the customary line of worship, a dedicated religious ritual is scheduled to take place at the famous Sharika Devi Temple on Thursday, following which the holy mace will be taken through multiple revered temples across the Kashmir valley.
Complete Itinerary of the Holy Mace Pilgrimage
According to the announced itinerary, the Chhadi Mubarak will officially depart from the Dashnami Akhada in Srinagar on August 22. En route to south Kashmir, the procession will pause at several historical shrines before reaching Pahalgam. On August 22 and August 23, special religious ceremonies will be conducted along the banks of the Lidder River in Pahalgam.
Following the rituals in Pahalgam, the sacred procession will arrive at Chandanwari on August 24 and halt at Sheshnag on August 25. The pilgrimage will then spend two consecutive nights at Panchtarni on August 26 and August 27. Finally, on August 28, the Chhadi Mubarak will reach the holy cave for the concluding puja, marking the official end of this year's Amarnath Yatra. After the final ceremony, the holy mace will be safely brought back to Dashnami Akhada in Srinagar, where it will remain enshrined until the next pilgrimage season.
Spiritual Significance and Current Yatra Status
The ritualistic worship of Chhadi Mubarak holds deep spiritual reverence, as the holy pilgrimage is traditionally considered to commence with its initial invocation. The entire pilgrimage comes to a complete spiritual closure only after the final immersion and prayer ceremonies conducted along the Lidder River in Pahalgam following the main cave rituals.
This year's 57-day Amarnath Yatra had commenced on July 3, during which an impressive total of 4.67 lakh pilgrims paid homage to Baba Barfani at the high-altitude cave shrine. However, adverse weather conditions and heavy rains severely impacted the trekking routes, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend the pilgrimage on August 8. The suspension remains in effect along both the Baltal and Pahalgam tracks to facilitate essential maintenance and track restoration. Nevertheless, keeping the sacred tradition intact, the procession of the holy mace will proceed as planned via Pahalgam starting August 22.
