The annual Amarnath Yatra concluded this morning in Jammu and Kashmir, with over 5 lakh pilgrims from various parts of the country paying their respects at the holy cave shrine this year.
The holy mace of Lord Shiva, known as the "Chhari Mubarak," reached the Amarnath Cave Shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas early this morning, marking the formal end of the 52-day-long yatra.
The pilgrimage, which began on June 29, was led by Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the holy mace.
Mahant Deependra Giri remarked, "This is one of the most ancient Yatras in India, attracting devotees from both India and abroad. They come to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva, represented by an ice Lingam in the holy cave situated at an altitude of 3,888 meters in the Himalayas."
A group of sadhus, led by Mahant Deependra Giri, carried the Chhari Mubarak to the holy cave after spending the night at Panchtarni.
The pilgrims travelled along both the longer Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the shorter but steeper Baltal route in the Ganderbal district to reach the shrine.
Today, the Chhari Mubarak was taken to the holy cave before sunrise on the occasion of Shravan Purnima, which coincides with Raksha Bandhan.
The pooja began with the rising sun, and with its conclusion, the yatra ended peacefully this morning.
This year saw a remarkable influx of pilgrims, with over 5 lakh devotees visiting the holy cave shrine.
Mahant Deependra Giri expressed his satisfaction with the arrangements made by the authorities, which facilitated a smooth pilgrimage for the devotees.
He added, "Thanks to the improved facilities and the widening of the track to the cave shrine, the number of pilgrims has significantly increased this year."
Follow us
