Amarnath Yatra: Holy Mace taken to Sharika-Bhawani Temple in Srinagar for annual rituals

As part of the annual Swami Amarnath Ji Yatra 2025, the sacred Chhari-Mubarak (Holy Mace) of Swami Amarnath Ji, led by Mahant Deependra Giri, was on Friday taken to the ancient Sharika-Bhawani Temple at Hari Parvat in Srinagar to pay obeisance to the Goddess on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Shukla Paksha Pratipada, in accordance with the long-standing tradition.

The religious ceremony was attended by Amrit Dass, Mahant of Shri Chander Chinar Mandir, Srinagar; Kameshwar Dass, Mahant of Shri Panchmukhi Hanuman Mandir; and Prem Giri, Mahant of Shri Sureshwar Temple. A group of accompanying sadhus and devotees also participated in the hour-long prayers. A sizable number of local members from the Kashmiri Hindu community joined the rituals and offered collective prayers for peace and prosperity in Jammu & Kashmir and the nation at large.

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The Sharika-Bhawani Temple, located atop Hari Parvat, is dedicated to Goddess Sharika, also revered as Tripursundari or Chakreshwari Devi among mystics. She is considered the presiding deity of Srinagar and is believed to have manifested in the form of a sacred Shila (holy rock) at the site.

The Chhari-Sthapana ceremony will be performed on Sunday, July 27, at the Shri Amareshwar Temple located within the premises of Dashnami Akhara at Budshah Chowk, Srinagar. The traditional Chhari-Pujan will take place on Nag Panchami, Tuesday, July 29.

The Chhari-Mubarak will depart for the Holy Shrine of Swami Amarnath Ji, situated at an altitude of 13,500 feet in South Kashmir, on August 4 from Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar. The final leg of the pilgrimage will culminate with rituals and traditional pujan at the cave shrine on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Purnima on August 9.