J&K: Amarnath yatra ends

The Chhari Mubarak, the holy mace of Lord Shiva on Tuesday reached the shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, marking the culmination of the two-month annual pilgrimage.

Being carried by its custodian Mahant Deependra Giri, the silver mace covered in saffron robes reached the cave around 6 am from Panchtarni for prayers marking the end of the yatra, coinciding with the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan.

The first to arrive at the 300-cubic metre cave was Mahant Deependra Giri along with a group of sadhus to perform puja, official sources said.

In the absence of Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha who is on a private visit abroad, chief executive officer of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Arun Kumar offered prayers at the shrine.

The yatra, which began on July 1, witnessed a few grenade attacks on the pilgrims at Baltal and Awantipora on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway and several disruptions on account of inclement weather with nearly 3 lakh pilgrims visiting the cave shrine, SASB spokesman Madan Mantoo told PTI.

Forty-two pilgrims and two Muslim youths, who were providing services to the pilgrims, died during the yatra mostly due to natural causes, he added.