Shiva’s mace procession in Himachal begins Wednesday

SHIMLA - The procession of the holy mace of Lord Shiva during the Manimahesh pilgrimage in Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh would start Wednesday, an official said Monday.

“All arrangements have been made for the ‘Charri Yatra’ (holy mace procession) that would begin from 1,000-year-old Lakshmi Narayan temple in Chamba town,” Chamba Deputy Commissioner Devesh Kumar told IANS.

The month-long annual Manimahesh pilgrimage commenced Aug 20 and would conclude on Radhashthmi Sep 15 when thousands of devotees would take a dip in the oval-shaped, glacial-fed Manimahesh Lake.

So far, more than 150,000 devotees undertook the pilgrimage to the Manimahesh Lake in the Bharmour Valley from where they can see Mount Kailash, believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva, and offer prayers.

It is believed that the devotees can have a view of the Mount Kailash only if the lord is pleased. When the peak is hidden behind clouds, it is a sign of the lord’s unhappiness, the faithfuls say.

The state government has already allowed private heli-taxi operators to ferry people during the pilgrimage.

The choppers ferry devotees between Bharmour town, the base camp of the pilgrimage, and Gauri Kund, just one km short of the lake. The to-and-fro fare per person is Rs.7,500.

The journey on foot starts from Hadsar at a height of 6,000 feet, and after passing through rugged, cold and inhospitable terrain it concludes at 13,500 feet at the lake.