Amid tight security, hundreds of Hindu devotees on Sunday offered prayers at Mawjymbuin in Mawsynram, with the annual pilgrimage passing off peacefully and without any untoward incident.
Nearly 200 devotees undertook a foot march from Mahadev Khola to Krem Mawjymbuin, setting off at around 3 am and trekking to the revered cave shrine in East Khasi Hills district.
Several vehicles carrying devotees also travelled to Mawsynram to participate in the religious observance.
The pilgrimage was conducted in compliance with the conditions laid down by the High Court of Meghalaya which had allowed Hindu devotees to perform puja at the site only by pouring water on the naturally formed stalagmite inside the cave.
The court had barred devotees from carrying ritual items or conducting any other form of worship at the site.
Police personnel and magistrates were deployed at strategic locations around the cave and along the route to ensure the programme remained peaceful and adheres strictly to the prescribed standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Security arrangements were further tightened with police escorting the group of pilgrims from Shillong to Mawsynram as a precautionary measure.