Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 15: With unabated rush of pilgrims from different parts of country continuing, 10,833 yatris paid obeisance at the holy cave on the 15th day of the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji yatra, today.
Till date, 1,93,545 yatris had the darshan of the Shivlingam at the cave shrine situated at the height of 3880 metres from sea level in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag, officials said.
The weather remained cloudy in the holy cave area and at twin base camps of Nunwan -Pahalgam and Baltal, Sonamarg during the day today, officials said, adding it rained heavily for two to three hours in the day, however the yatra plied smoothly and there was no disturbance in the yatra movement.
Officials said the yatris who offered prayers at holy cave today started their return journey towards the base camps for their home States. They said the rush of pilgrims continued from both tracks of Baltal and Chandanwari-Sheshnag.
Meanwhile, 14th batch of 5,210 pilgrims drawn from different parts of the country left for the twin base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal-Sonamarg in a cavalcade of 222 vehicles early this morning from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas under tight security measures.
Reports reaching here said that these yatris had reached their respective base camps by this evening where from they will leave for darshan of holy cave early tomorrow morning.
The rush of pilgrims is also continuing in Jammu and by this evening, over 2000 pilgrims have managed to reach Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar, while more than this number is camping outside the Yatri Niwas in different parts of the city.
Hundreds of Sadhus are also camping in Jammu for days together waiting for their turn to leave for holy cave from here. The yatris’ spirits are high and those who return after darshan hope to come again next year to pay their obeisance to Bholey Nath.
Reports reaching here said that 3000 yatris crossed Lakhanpur -the gateway of J&K towards Jammu during 24 hours in 125 vehicles to leave for their onwards sojourn from here on their respective days of darshan. Besides, thousands of pilgrims are reaching here daily via train services.
The Government has made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims of their boarding, lodging and security. A multi-tier security cover has been provided to yatris right from Lakhanpur to holy cave to avert any untoward incident.
The 46 day- long Shri Amarnath Ji yatra which commenced on July 1 will culminate on August 15 the day coinciding with Hindu festivals of Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan when the holy mace of Lord Shiva led by its sole custodian Mahant Dipendra Giri Ji will reach cave shrine from its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.
The holy mace will leave for its final sojourn from Srinagar on Nag Panchmi falling on August 5.
It may be recalled that yatra to holy cave remained suspended from here on July 8 and July 13 in view of Kashmir bandh calls given by separatists.
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