Srinagar, Aug. 5 -- The final leg of the Amarnath yatra began on Monday with Mahant Deependra Giri taking out the "Chhari Mubarak", sacred mace of Lord Shiva, from its abode at Dashnami Akhara Temple for its journey to the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.

The religious procession will reach the shrine on August 9 when the yatra is officially scheduled to end coinciding with Hindu religious occasion of Shravan Purnima.

"The journey begins from the Shri Amareshwar Temple located in Dashnami Akhara. During the night of Dashmi and Ekadashi, the journey will continue towards Pahalgam," Giri said.

The procession reached Shiv Mandir Bijbehara, Anantnag in south Kashmir and is expected to reach Chandanwari in Pahalgam on August 6 and th...