SRINAGAR — The ceremonial holy mace of Lord Shiva, known as the Chhari Mubarak, departed its permanent seat at the historic Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on Saturday morning, marking the formal commencement of the final leg of the annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra.

Led by its official custodian, Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, a solemn procession of sadhus and devotees carrying the mace set out toward the Himalayan cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3,880 meters in South Kashmir. The ceremonial journey signifies the religious culmination of the 57-day pilgrimage, scheduled to formally conclude on August 28, coinciding with the festivals of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

Ritual Stops En Route to Pahalgam

Following centuries-old tradition, the Chhari Mubarak procession will pause at designated heritage temples along the national highway before advancing into the Lidder Valley. Special prayer ceremonies (pujas) were conducted at stopovers in Bijbehara and the ancient Martand Sun Temple in Mattan before the holy mace reached the Gourishankar Temple in Pahalgam later in the day.

From Pahalgam, Mahant Deependra Giri and the accompanying procession will traverse the traditional mountain trekking route, making scheduled overnight halts at Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni. The mace is slated to reach the Holy Cave shrine on August 28 for day-long special rituals and final prayers.

The holy cave houses a naturally formed ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the lunar cycle, revered by millions of Hindu devotees worldwide as a physical manifestation of Lord Shiva.

Record Footfall and Stringent Security Infrastructure

Official administration records confirm that over 4.80 lakh pilgrims performed darshan at the high-altitude cave shrine during this year's pilgrimage season. The administration deployed extensive multi-tier security grids comprising Jammu & Kashmir Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and military units across both traditional access axes—the Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal trek in North Kashmir.

Due to hawk-eyed surveillance, real-time drone tracking, and integrated checkpoint management, the 2026 yatra concluded without security incidents. However, extreme environmental factors took a toll on pilgrim health; civil administrators reported 42 natural fatalities primarily caused by high-altitude pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest, and acute oxygen depletion.

With the passage of the Chhari Mubarak processional party, civil authorities have formally suspended general civilian movement on both tracks. Track maintenance crews and disaster response units have taken over the routes following recent inclement weather and landslips to ensure safe passage for the holy mace party.

SRINAGAR — The ceremonial holy mace of Lord Shiva, known as the Chhari Mubarak, departed its permanent seat at the historic Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on Saturday morning, marking the formal commencement of the final leg of the annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra.

Led by its official custodian, Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, a solemn procession of sadhus and devotees carrying the mace set out toward the Himalayan cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3,880 meters in South Kashmir. The ceremonial journey signifies the religious culmination of the 57-day pilgrimage, scheduled to formally conclude on August 28, coinciding with the festivals of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

Ritual Stops En Route to Pahalgam

Following centuries-old tradition, the Chhari Mubarak procession will pause at designated heritage temples along the national highway before advancing into the Lidder Valley. Special prayer ceremonies (pujas) were conducted at stopovers in Bijbehara and the ancient Martand Sun Temple in Mattan before the holy mace reached the Gourishankar Temple in Pahalgam later in the day.

From Pahalgam, Mahant Deependra Giri and the accompanying procession will traverse the traditional mountain trekking route, making scheduled overnight halts at Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni. The mace is slated to reach the Holy Cave shrine on August 28 for day-long special rituals and final prayers.

The holy cave houses a naturally formed ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the lunar cycle, revered by millions of Hindu devotees worldwide as a physical manifestation of Lord Shiva.

Record Footfall and Stringent Security Infrastructure

Official administration records confirm that over 4.80 lakh pilgrims performed darshan at the high-altitude cave shrine during this year's pilgrimage season. The administration deployed extensive multi-tier security grids comprising Jammu & Kashmir Police, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), and military units across both traditional access axes—the Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal trek in North Kashmir.

Due to hawk-eyed surveillance, real-time drone tracking, and integrated checkpoint management, the 2026 yatra concluded without security incidents. However, extreme environmental factors took a toll on pilgrim health; civil administrators reported 42 natural fatalities primarily caused by high-altitude pulmonary edema, cardiac arrest, and acute oxygen depletion.

With the passage of the Chhari Mubarak processional party, civil authorities have formally suspended general civilian movement on both tracks. Track maintenance crews and disaster response units have taken over the routes following recent inclement weather and landslips to ensure safe passage for the holy mace party.