Srinagar, July 29 -- The traditional Chhari Mubarak, the holy mace of Lord Shiva and the most revered symbol of the annual Amarnath Yatra, was ceremonially taken out from the historic Dashnami Akhada at Maisuma here on Wednesday, marking the beginning of its sacred journey to the Amarnath cave shrine.
Amid the chanting of Vedic hymns, a group of sadhus led by Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of the holy mace, departed for the Gauri Shankar Temple in Pahalgam, where the Bhoomi Pujan of the Chhari Mubarak will be conducted.
The holy mace would follow the traditional pilgrimage route via Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni before reaching the holy cave shrine on August 28 on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Purnima.
Giri said a...