Jammu Tawi, Aug. 20 -- The 'Pavitra Charri' (Holy Mace) of the Shree Machail Mata Yatra, accompanied by thousands of devotees, left the Gori Shankar Temple in Sarkoot for Sub-Division Paddar early Wednesday, an official said.
Earlier, the Holy Mace had embarked on its journey from Jain Bazar in Jammu, reached Doda, and arrived in Kishtwar on Tuesday evening, the official said.
The annual pilgrimage to the 9,705-foot-high Machail Mata shrine in the scenic Paddar Valley of Kishtwar commenced on July 28 and is scheduled to conclude on September 8.
Several lakh pilgrims have visited the shrine so far this year, including around one lakh devotees who paid obeisance before the formal start of the annual yatra, following the opening of the shri...