With the conclusion of the annual pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Holy Cave on Monday, a big challenge for the Administration, in view of the second wave of Covid pandemic, passed over peacefully and without any Covid fatality. With the last rituals of ‘Puja and Visarjan’ (Last Prayer and Immersion) performed at the bank of river Lidder at Pahalgam on ‘Shravan-Purnima’, the annual pilgrimage of Chhari-Mubarak (Holy Mace) of Amarnathji culminated.
A select gathering of Sadhus, a few Members of Parliament and other pilgrimage related persons accompanied the Holy Silver Mace of Lord Shiva and participated in the Pujan at Pahalgam. The annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath shrine has a very important and unique place among the Hindus the world over and is an age-old feature. and other places on different occasions yesterday. This year too, the Holy Mace was airlifted to Holy Shrine for the third consecutive year due to the spread of Covid pandemic in India that has taken a heavy toll of lives.
After it was suspended last year due to Covid, this year being unaware of the turning of events, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and the Administration had made elaborate arrangements for a smooth and successful pilgrimage yatra. Keeping in view the security reasons, the Administration has taken on its face and put in place all that was necessary for the safety and security of the prospective pilgrims.
The unfortunate turn of the situation that worsened due to unprecedented spread of the Covid-19 new variant caught the union and state governments unprepared. The nation was combating the pandemic with its back towards the wall and paid a huge price in the terms of precious lives that rendered many orphaned and destitute.
SASB has been monitoring the situation and expected the situation could improve but that did not happen and finally it has decided to suspend the yatra this year too. This decision may have disappointed many but in the interest of safety of lives, the decision to cancel the yatra was taken in right earnest indeed.
Though the decision to call off this year’s pilgrimage too for the safety of pilgrims but all the rituals connected with Chhari-Mubarak were performed with religious fervor and gaiety maintained. ‘Ashad-Purnima’ when Bhoomi Pujan at Pahalgam that marks the commencement of annual pilgrimage was performed religiously and traditionally.
Further sequence of Chhari-Mubarak journey was also maintained from Akhara to historic Shankaracharya Temple on the occasion of ‘Haryali Amawasaya’ and Sharika Bhawani Temple on the hillock of Hari Parvat and thenceforth. All these rituals were performed following all the Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) and COVID Appropriate Behaviour to carry out religious obligations and preserve the age-old traditions. One more important feature was introduced this year by making arrangements for Live Telecast of morning and evening ‘Aarti’ and ‘Darshan’ during the entire auspicious month of ‘Shravan’ that facilitated millions of devotees across the world.
While no one knows what is in the womb of the future to come, let us hope that the traditional pilgrimage to Sri Amarnath Holy Cave would resume next year in a smooth, safe and secure situation.
