Archive · 17 Aug 2026
Chhari Pujan performed in Srinagar; mace to begin Amarnath trek
Every year, many people go on a special trip called the Amarnath Yatra to visit a holy cave shrine in the mountains.
Before the final part of the trip, a special ceremony called Chhari Pujan is held.
In this ceremony, people pray to a holy mace, a special stick that belongs to Lord Shiva.
The ceremony took place at a temple in Srinagar on Monday, August 17, which is the festival of Nag Panchami.
A holy man named Mahant Deependra Giri led the prayers together with a group of sadhus.
After the ceremony, the holy mace will be carried on a long walk to the Amarnath cave shrine.
The walk begins on August 22, with night stops at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarani.
When the mace reaches the shrine on August 28, final prayers and darshan will take place.
More than 480,000 pilgrims have already visited the shrine since the Yatra began on July 3.
The entire Yatra will come to an end on August 28.
The Chhari Pujan of Lord Shiva's holy mace was performed at the Amareshwar temple in Srinagar on Nag Panchami, Monday, August 17.
Mahant Deependra Giri, the mace's custodian, led a group of sadhus in the puja amid chants of Vedic hymns.
The holy mace will begin its trek to the Amarnath cave shrine on August 22.
Final Pujan and Darshan at the shrine will take place on Shravan Purnima, August 28.
More than 4.80 lakh pilgrims have performed the Amarnath Yatra since it began on July 3.
- Who
- Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of the holy mace, along with a group of sadhus.
- What
- The Chhari Pujan ceremony of Lord Shiva's holy mace was performed, marking the final phase of the annual Amarnath Yatra.
- When
- Monday, August 17 (Nag Panchami); the mace trek begins August 22 and final prayers occur on Shravan Purnima, August 28.
- Where
- Amareshwar temple in Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar; the trek proceeds to the Amarnath cave shrine via Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarani.
- Why
- To mark the final phase of the annual Amarnath Yatra and perform Pujan and Darshan at the shrine on Shravan Purnima.
- Event
- Chhari Pujan of Lord Shiva's holy mace
- Venue
- Amareshwar temple, Mahadev Gir Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar
- Ceremony date
- August 17 (Nag Panchami)
- Trek start
- August 22
- Final Pujan and Darshan
- August 28 (Shravan Purnima)
- Night halts
- Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag, Panchtarani
- Pilgrims so far
- More than 4.80 lakh
- Yatra period
- July 3 to August 28