A total of 1,33,878 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for the Kashmir valley since July 2
Since the 38-day annual Amarnath Yatra commenced on July 3, over 3.40 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high shrine. PIC/ PTI
A fresh batch of 3,500 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Thursday for the Amarnath cave shrine in Anantnag district, officials said.
The 22nd batch of Amarnath pilgrims, comprising 2,704 men, 675 women, 12 children, and 109 sadhus and sadhvis, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Thursday under tight security. The pilgrims departed in two convoys of 140 vehicles for the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal. While 2,668 pilgrims left for Pahalgam in a convoy of 95 vehicles, 832 pilgrims took the Baltal route in 45 vehicles.
With this, a total of 1,33,878 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for the Kashmir valley since July 2, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of the Amarnath Yatra.
Since the 38-day annual Amarnath Yatra commenced on July 3, over 3.40 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high shrine housing a naturally formed ice shivlingam.
Last year, over 5.10 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine.
'Chhari Mubarak' taken to Shankaracharya Temple for Haryali Amavasya prayers
Meanwhile, 'Chhari Mubarak', the saffron robed holy mace of Lord Shiva was taken to the historic Shankaracharya temple on Thursday for special prayers on the occasion of 'Haryali-Amavasya (Shravan Amavasya)' as per decades-old traditions.
The Chhari Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji led by Mahant Deependra Giri was taken to the temple located at Gopadri hills for prayers as part of the ongoing annual Amarnath Yatra 2025 pilgrimage.
Giri, the custodian of the mace, said that the Chhari Mubarak was taken from its abode at Dashnami Akhara near Lal Chowk here to the temple where a 'pujan' was held.
The sound of conch shells charged the atmosphere and 'pujan' was performed chanting vedic hymns, he said.
The sadhus accompanying the holy mace took part in the pooja, during which collective prayers were offered for peace and prosperity in Jammu and Kashmir, Mahant Deependra Giri said.
He added that the Chhari Mubarak will be taken to the Sharika Bhawani temple at Hari Parbat on Friday to pay obeisance to the goddess.
Rituals for Chhari Sthapana will be performed at Shri Amareshwar temple, Dashnami Akhara, on Sunday, followed by Chhari Pujan at the Akhara on Nag Panchami on Tuesday.
The Mahant will then lead the holy mace to the Amarnath cave shrine, with night halts at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, to perform pujan and have darshan on the morning of Shravan Purnima on August 9.
The pilgrimage will conclude with the visarjan (immersion) of the mace in the Lidder River at Pahalgam the following day.
(Inputs frrom PTI)
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