Last rituals of Chhari Mubarak completed

Srinagar, Aug 21: The annual pilgrimage of Chhari Mubarak Swami Amarnathji culminated successfully on Wednesday at Pahalgam with its last rituals ‘Pujan’ and ‘Visarjan’ that were performed at the bank of River Lidder.

A group of Sadhus led by Mahant Deependra Giri, security personnel, a few tourists who had come from various parts of the country, and the residents participated in the Pujan. Later, ‘Karri-Pakouri’ Bhandara was organised, and ‘Dakshina’ was offered to everyone present.

Addressing the gathering after the culminating ceremony, Mahant Giri congratulated and thanked the Army, BSF, CRPF, ITBP, J&K Police, Health Department, PHE, PDD, and all the agencies connected with the yatra for making the arrangements and the people of J&K for the successful yatra in which 5.12 lakh yatris visited the Amarnath Cave shrine to have darshan and pay obeisance.

He appreciated the services rendered by all the voluntary organisations for providing langar, medical, and other essential facilities to the yatris during the yatra.

Mahant Giri also lauded the services rendered by NDRF, SDRF, and MRT teams.

He said the only regret was the suspension of the yatra unexpectedly 13 days before the ‘Shravan Purnima’ from the Pahalgam route and 10 days before from the Baltal route which resulted in hurting the sentiments of thousands of yatris and causing lots of inconvenience to them.

“It is the third consecutive year that the yatra was stopped without any notice or information before the closure,” Mahant Giri said.

He appealed to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board and the government that if for any reason the yatra has to be closed or suspended prematurely in future, it should be publicised at the national level at least a week before the closure through electronic and print media.

The arrangements including transportation, accommodation, and food for the Sadhus, people and security personnel who had accompanied Chhari Mubarak during the Amarnath Yatra were made by ‘The True Trust’ founded by Mahant Deependra Giri in the year 2004.