Pratham Pooja, Hawan performed at Amaranth cave shrine

Srinagar: A Pratham Pooja and a Hawan was on Thursday performed on the occasion of Jyeshta Purnima at the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.

The annual Amarnath pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine was earlier this week cancelled in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic. However, Online Darshan for millions of devotees worldwide will be arranged by the Shrine Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB)

An official of SASB said that its Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Nitishwar Kumar on Thursday performed Pratham Pooja on the auspicious occasion of Jyeshta Purnima at the holy cave. 'Hawan was also performed on the occasion,' he said.

Meanwhile, hailing the SASB's decision to cancel the Amarnath pilgrimage, the custodian of the 'Chhari Mubarak', the holy silver Mace of Lord Shiva, Mahant Deependra Giri expressed hope that by next year, normal pilgrimage will be held.

Mr Giri said this year also the pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine has been cancelled like last year.

'Although the decision is not pleasant for the pilgrims, but in view of the pandemic and safety of the lives of lakhs of pilgrims who were coming from different parts of the country besides service providers, volunteers and government officials who were to be deployed for the yatra duty it is an appropriate decision,' he said.

'I also hope that pilgrims who had got themselves registered for this year pilgrimage and those who had planned for pilgrims shall not be disappointed as they would have darshan of Aarti in the morning and evening which will be live telecast on Doordarshan,' he added.

Mr Giri said 'when charri Mubarak will reach holy cave on Shravanpurnima on August 2, we all shall pray to Amaranth ji to eradicate and wipe out this pandemic and accept our prayers'.

The CEO prayed for the good health and well-being of the people. ''With the blessings of Lord Shiva, who is a source of strength for people during this difficult time, we shall overcome this health crisis and work towards welfare of the mankind,'' the CEO said.

The CEO further said in order to respect the religious sentiments of millions of devotees worldwide, SASB has made all the arrangements for carrying out traditional religious rituals at the Holy Cave.

The official said that the SASB would perform morning and evening Arti of the Holy Ice Lingam at the Holy Cave Shrine from June 28, 2021 to Shravan Purnima falling on August 22, 2021. ''The timing of the Arti would be 0600 hrs to 630 hrs in the morning and 1700 hrs to 1730 hrs in the evening,'' he said.

''The devotees can have 'Darshan' through live telecast of Morning and Evening Arti through Shri Amarnathji Shrine Boards website link: http://www.shriamarnathjishrine.com/AartiLive.html or through Shrine Board's Android based Application which may be downloaded through the link: http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ncog.shriamarnath,'' he added.(UNI)