Upcoming Ritual Journey of Holy Stick Marks Highlight of Amarnath Yatra
Significance of the Holy Stick Journey
The upcoming Amarnath Yatra will prominently feature the ceremonial journey of the sacred stick, known as 'Chhari Mubarak'. Officials announced on Sunday that this journey is set to commence on Thursday, leading to the Amarnath cave located in the southern Kashmir Himalayas.
'Chhari Mubarak' will be taken to the historic Shankaracharya Temple on August 12, followed by a visit to the Sharika Bhavani Temple on August 13. Subsequently, a ritual for the establishment of the stick will take place at the Shri Amreshwar Temple Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar on August 15.
Traditional Worship and Journey Schedule
Mahant Deependri Giri mentioned that traditional worship of the stick will occur at Dashnami Akhara in Srinagar on August 17, coinciding with Nag Panchami. The holy stick pilgrimage will officially begin on August 22, making its way to the sacred cave of Swami Amarnath Ji, where prayers and darshan will be held on August 28 during the Shravan Purnima festival.
The stick will rest at various locations along the pilgrimage route: in Pahalgam on August 22 and 23, Chandanwari on August 24, Sheshnag on August 25, and Panchatarni on August 26 and 27.
Travel Suspension and Maintenance Updates
Earlier on Saturday, officials announced the suspension of the Amarnath Yatra to facilitate repairs on both routes leading to the Amarnath cave. Anshul Garg, the Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, stated that the journey will be suspended from August 9, 2026, with 'Chhari Mubarak' taking the traditional Pahalgam route, concluding the Amarnath Yatra 2026 on August 28.
This year's Amarnath Yatra commenced on July 3 and will conclude with 'Chhari Mubarak' on August 28. The pilgrimage began simultaneously from the Chandanwari route in Anantnag district and the Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
Garg reported that over 480,000 devotees have already participated in the darshan. However, recent rainfall has necessitated repairs and maintenance on sensitive sections of the travel routes. The Border Roads Organization (BRO) is currently undertaking these repairs, and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecasted adverse weather conditions in the coming days.
He urged all pilgrims to adhere to the guidelines issued by the relevant authorities to ensure their safety and the smooth continuation of their journey.