JAMMU, Aug 30: Annual pilgrimage of Chhari-Mubarak Shri Amarnath Ji culminated successfully on Sunday at Pahalgam with performance of its last rituals ‘Pujan’ & ‘Visarjan’, ceremonies on the bank of river Lidder with great fervor by Sadhus and devotes led by Mahant Deependra Giri sole custodian of the holy mace.
Besides, Sadhus, security personnel, some tourists who had come from various parts of the country and residents of Anantnag district participated in the Pujan. Later, keeping the tradition alive, ‘Karri-Pakouri’ Bhandara was organized and ‘Dakshina’ was offered to one and all.
In his opening remarks while addressing the gathering after the culmination ceremony, Mahant Deependra Giri regretted the suspension of 57 days long annual pilgrimage unexpectedly 32 days before the ‘Shravan Purnima’ from the traditional Pahalgam route and 20 days before from the Baltal route resulting in hurting the sentiments of thousands of pilgrims and causing lots of inconvenience to them’’.
“This was the fifth consecutive year that the annual Yatra was stopped for the pilgrims much earlier than last day of pilgrimage i.e Shrawan Purnima depriving them of their religious right to have ‘Darshan’ on this auspicious day,’’ he added.
Mahant Giri said “As it is a pilgrimage and to have ‘Darshan’ on Shravan Purnima’ has the utmost religious significance in our scriptures; all the concerned quarters must devise a mechanism by which all the intended pilgrims coming from across the country and even abroad be allowed to have ‘Darshan’ on Shravan Purnima,. The pilgrimage must continue until ‘Shravan Purnima’’, he added.
However, the Mahant told the gathering that he along with all the Sadhus who accompanied Chhari-Mubarak offered collective prayers at holy Shrine of Amarnath Ji on behalf of all the pilgrims who could not make it to holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji due to premature closure of pilgrimage by the authorities and also prayed for Jammu and Kashmir and beloved country for its prosperity and glory.
Mahant Deependra Giri congratulated and thanked all the arms of UT administration who rendered their services during the pilgrimage. He also complimented Indian Army, B.S.F., I.T.B.P., C.R.P.F. and Jammu and Kashmir Police for providing security cover to the pilgrims and people of Jammu & Kashmir for successful Yatra wherein over 4.80 lakh pilgrims visited the holy Shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji to pay obeisance.
He also appreciated the services rendered by all the voluntary organizations for providing langar, medical and other essential facilities to the pilgrims during the pilgrimage. Mahant Deependra Giri also commended the services rendered by MRT, NDRF, and SDRF teams.
All the arrangements including transportation, accommodation and food for the Sadhus, people from the general public and food for all the security personnel who had accompanied Chhari-Mubarak during Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra were made by ‘The True Trust’ founded by him in the year 2004.
The holy mace after performing Darshan at cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3880 meters from sea level in deep Himalayas of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district had started its return journey towards Pahalgam from Panchtarni on Saturday. It after performing the rituals at bank of river Lidder in Pahalgam on Sunday returned to its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar in the evening.
It may be recalled that the annual Amaranth Ji Yatra this year started on July 3 from twin tracks of Baltal and Pahalgam. However, Yatra was suspended on July 19 from both the tracks due to inclement weather forecast by Indian Metrological Department (IMD). The heavy rains and landslides caused heavy damage to both the tracks Later the Baltal track was restored after a week but the Yatra remained suspended from traditional Pahalgam track. Again on August 9 due to inclement weather forecast the Yatra was suspended from Baltal track also.
