Srinagar, Aug 22: The holy Chhari Mubarak, the sacred mace associated with the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, left Srinagar for Pahalgam on Saturday, marking the beginning of its traditional journey to the holy cave.

Custodian of the Chhari Mubarak, Mahant Deependra Giri, said the mace would follow the traditional route, with prayers and rituals being performed at designated stopovers.
The Chhari Mubarak will reach Pahalgam on August 22, halt at Chandanwari on August 24 and proceed to Sheshnag on August 25. It will remain at Panchtarni on August 26 and 27 before proceeding to the Amarnath cave on the morning of August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
At the cave, traditional prayers and Vedic chanting will be performed before the sacred mace is installed amid prescribed rituals.
Following the cave ceremony, the Chhari Mubarak will return to Panchtarni and retrace the traditional route through Sheshnag and Chandanwari before reaching Pahalgam on August 29.
The sacred pilgrimage will conclude with final prayers and Visarjan on August 30.