Chhari Mubarak begins journey from Srinagar to Amarnath cave shrine
Synopsis
The Chhari Mubarak — Lord Shiva's sacred mace — left Srinagar on 22 August under custodian Swami Deependra Giri, tracing a centuries-old mountain route to reach the Amarnath cave shrine on 28 August. With over 4.80 lakh pilgrims having taken darshan and 42 deaths from natural causes, this year's 57-day Yatra closes on Shravan Purnima — incident-free on the security front.
Key Takeaways
The Chhari Mubarak departed Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on 22 August , led by custodian Swami Deependra Giri .
The sacred mace will halt at Bijbehara , Mattan , Chandanwari , Sheshnag , and Panchtarni before reaching the cave shrine on 28 August .
More than 4.80 lakh pilgrims had darshan at the Amarnath cave shrine this year, situated at 3,880 metres above sea level.
The 57-day Yatra concludes on Shravan Purnima , coinciding with Raksha Bandhan .
42 pilgrims died from natural causes including cardiac arrest and high-altitude sickness; no security incidents were reported.
Pilgrims other than the Chhari Mubarak procession are currently barred from the trek due to track maintenance after severe weather.
Lord Shiva's sacred mace, the Chhari Mubarak, departed from the Dashnami Akhara temple in Srinagar on Saturday, 22 August, marking the commencement of its ceremonial trek to the Amarnath cave shrine in the Himalayas. Swami Deependra Giri, the custodian of the Chhari Mubarak, led a procession of Sadhus carrying the sacred mace towards Pahalgam in South Kashmir — signalling the final leg of the annual Amarnath Yatra.
Route and Halting Stations
The procession departed its seat at the Dashnami Akhara and is scheduled to halt at designated temples along the route, including Bijbehara and Mattan. After prayers at the traditional stopover in Bijbehara and at the historic Martand Sun Temple in Mattan, the Chhari Mubarak is set to arrive at the Gourishankar Temple in Pahalgam on the same day.
From Pahalgam, the procession will follow the traditional mountain track, pausing at Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, before reaching the holy cave shrine on 28 August — coinciding with Shravan Purnima and the festival of Raksha Bandhan. The arrival of the Chhari Mubarak for final prayers will formally conclude this year's Yatra after 57 days.
Record Pilgrimage This Year
More than 4.80 lakh devotees had darshan at the Amarnath cave shrine this year, which sits at an altitude of 3,880 metres above sea level in the Himalayas. The shrine houses a naturally occurring ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes in accordance with the lunar cycle. Devotees believe the formation symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.
Notably, pilgrims other than the Chhari Mubarak procession have been barred from undertaking the trek at this stage, owing to track maintenance necessitated by severe weather conditions on both the Baltal base camp route in North Kashmir and the Pahalgam base camp route in South Kashmir.
Security and Fatalities
Heavy deployment of Jammu & Kashmir Police and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) ensured the Yatra remained incident-free from a security standpoint. However, officials confirmed that 42 pilgrims died during the Yatra due to natural causes, including cardiac arrest and high-altitude sickness linked to reduced oxygen levels at extreme elevations. No security-related fatalities were reported.
What Happens Next
The Chhari Mubarak is expected to reach the holy cave on 28 August for the concluding prayers on Shravan Purnima, bringing the 2025 Amarnath Yatra to a close. The completion of the pilgrimage season without any security incident is being seen as a significant achievement for the administration managing one of India's most logistically complex religious events.
Point of View
But they also amplify the health and logistics burden on an already challenging mountain corridor. As pilgrimage tourism expands, the gap between crowd management and medical readiness deserves as much scrutiny as security deployments.
NationPress
22 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Chhari Mubarak and why is it significant?
The Chhari Mubarak is the sacred silver mace of Lord Shiva, traditionally carried from Srinagar to the Amarnath cave shrine each year. Its arrival at the cave marks the culmination of the annual Amarnath Yatra and is considered the most auspicious moment of the pilgrimage season.
When will the Chhari Mubarak reach the Amarnath cave shrine?
The Chhari Mubarak is scheduled to reach the Amarnath cave shrine on 28 August, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. This will formally conclude the 57-day Yatra for 2025.
How many pilgrims visited Amarnath this year?
More than 4.80 lakh devotees had darshan at the Amarnath cave shrine during the 2025 Yatra season. The shrine is located at an altitude of 3,880 metres in the Himalayas.
Why are pilgrims not allowed on the Amarnath trek right now?
Pilgrims other than the Chhari Mubarak procession have been barred from the trek due to ongoing track maintenance following severely inclement weather on both the Baltal and Pahalgam base camp routes. Only the ceremonial procession is permitted at this stage.
Were there any casualties during the Amarnath Yatra 2025?
Officials confirmed that 42 pilgrims died during the Yatra due to natural causes, primarily cardiac arrest and high-altitude sickness. No security-related incidents were reported, with heavy J&K Police and CAPF deployment keeping the pilgrimage route secure throughout.
