As the cavalcade carrying the holy mace left Dashnami Akhara, the permanent abode of “Chhari Mubarak”, the air was rented with hymns. Sadhus also played conch religiously. The departure of the “Chhari Mubarak” was marked with religious fervour and solemnity. In the pre-military days, the holy mace used to be taken out in a long procession from the Akhara building but due to security reasons, it is now carried in a vehicle amid tight security.

“Chhari Mubarak” was also taken to Durganag Temple here where prayers were offered as per rituals. It also halts at the historic temples at Beijbehara and Mattan in Anantnag district, on the way to Pahalgam, the base camp for the Amarnath Yatra. After a two-day halt at Pahalgam, the holy mace will proceed to the cave shrine to reach on the night of August 3. In the wee hours of Shrawan Poornima falling on August 4, “Chhari Mubarak” will have darshan at the cave and prayers will be offered. This will mark conclusion of this year’s pilgrimage.

Talking to mediapersons, Mahant Deepinder Giri said he would offer prayers at the shrine for peace and prosperity of the state and the country. Regretting the blasts and shooting incidents at Sheshnag this year and at Pahalgam last year, he said he was hopeful that the state and Central Governments would take necessary security measures to prevent occurrence of such incidents.

He said apart from religious significance, the yatra had social and economic importance for the people of Kashmir as over a lakh pilgrims descend here from all over the country and abroad every year and contribute towards the economy of the state and area, besides, strengthening the bonds of national unity. He said he was thankful to the Muslim community for the support.

Meanwhile, the yatra had been temporarily stopped from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes this morning due to rain and slippery conditions on the track. No new batch of pilgrims was allowed from Jammu this morning as the national highway was blocked due to landslide at Kilometre 149, an official spokesman said here.

In all, 1,17,492 pilgrims have so far joined the yatra this year. Of them 1.15 lakh had darshan. Nearly 2500 pilgrims are at various stages of the track.

Twentythree pilgrims have died of natural death and seven in militant attack at Sheshnag so far. The pilgrims toll in Sheshnag has increased to seven with the death of an injured pilgrim at Army based hospital three days ago. He was identified as Dalip Kumar from Gujarat, whose body was airlifted from here on Friday, an official spokesman said.