Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 31: On the 33rd day of pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji, 5000 yatris drawn from different parts of country paid obeisance to naturally formed Ice Shivlingam in Himalayan cave situated at the height of 3888 meters in Lidder Valley in South Kashmir district of Anantnag while a fresh batch of 1654 yatris left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here early this morning in a cavalcade of 51 light and heavy motor vehicles under tight security arrangements for twin base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal –Sonamarg in Kashmir valley.
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Officials said that 33rd batch of 5086 pilgrims performed darshan at Himalayan cave from the twin tracks of Baltal and Chandanwari besides special chopper services by this evening.
They included 2874 male, 1230 female, 84 children, 85 Sadhus besides 804 security men and service providers. All these pilgrims after performing darshan have returned towards the Baltal base camp and Panchtarni haltage camp.
Officials said with 5086 pilgrims performing darshan at holy cave today 4,76,438 pilgrims visited the cave shrine in last 33 days since the 52-day yatra started on June 29 from twin tracks. The annual pilgrimage will culminate on Shravan Purnima coinciding with another Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan on August 19 when holy mace of Lord Shiva will reach cave shrine from its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.
Among the 1654 pilgrims who left for twin base camps from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here this morning included 1192males, 388 females, four children, 43 Sadhus, and 27 Sadhvis. Among them 456 preferred the shortest but tough Baltal track while 1198 opted for the longest but traditional Nunwan -Pahalgam route.
Officials said all of these pilgrims have reached their respective base camps by this evening wherefrom they will leave for cave shrine early tomorrow morning. Besides, the pilgrims who had reported at twin base camps yesterday also started their journey for holy cave early this morning.
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