'Chhari Mubarak' taken to Sharika-Bhawani temple

'Chhari-Mubarak', the saffron-robed holy mace of Lord Shiva, was today taken to the ancient 'Sharika-Bhawani' Temple, on a hillock here for offering prayers as per the age-old traditions related to the annual Amarnath yatra.
Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the mace carried it to the temple of goddess 'Sharika-Bhawani', popularly known as 'Tripursundari', at Hari Parbat hill here for offering prayers on the occasion of 'Shravan Shukla Paksha Pradipada'.
The goddess is believed to be 'Isht Devi' (Presiding Deity) of the Srinagar city who manifested herself in a figure of 'Shila' (Holy Rock) at Hari-Parbat.
Giri, accompanied by a group of sadhus and devotees, took the holy mace from its abode at Dashnami Akhara in Budshah Chowk area of the city and offered special prayers at the temple, said a spokesman of the 'True Trust', founded by Giri in 2004.

The traditional 'Chhari-Pujan' shall be performed on the occasion of 'Nag-Panchami' on August 11 at Shri Amareshwar Temple at Akhara Building in Budshah Chowk here, he said.
The Chhari Mubarak was taken to Pahalgam, the traditional base camp en route to the 3,880 mt high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, on July 22, marking the commencement of the ritual phase of the pilgrimage.

After performing 'Chhari-Pujan' at Dashnami Akhara here on 'Nag Panchami' on August 11, Giri will carry the mace to the Amarnath shrine on Shravan-Purnima on August 21 marking the conclusion of the 55-day Amarnath yatra.

The 'holy mace' will begin its journey from Srinagar to the Amarnath cave shrine on August 16 with night halts at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarani along the traditional 46-km Pahalgam-cave route.
The Amarnath yatra commenced on June 28 and so far over 3.45 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the cave shrine.
A total of 13 persons - 11 pilgrims including a sadhu and two 'sevadars' (community kitchen helpers) - died of natural causes during the yatra till date.