Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 4: The unflinching faith on Lord Shiva has encouraged the 74 year old J.K Chauhan of Sangli, Maharashtra to leave for the holy Amarnath pilgrimage which he is performing for the last 26 years.
Attired in white Kurta and a trouser with Anna Hazare cap on head, Chauhan reached here today on his motorcycle from Sangli and was on way to the holy cave via shortest Baltal route.
He claimed to have used petrol amounting to Rs. 10,700 in running his bike from Sangli to Jammu and he daily covers 500 km.
The elder said that he spends night at temples and takes food from Langars en-route.
A farmer from Maharashtra, Chauhan said that he visited the Amarnath shrine on bicycle for 12 years, on foot for six years and now since 2014 he is travelling for the pilgrimage on bike.
Chauhan said that he even performed the pilgrimage during last two years of COVID pandemic.
He left for Srinagar from here this morning saying that he will stay at Srinagar for night after which he will leave for Baltal tomorrow morning.
Chauhan said that he has enough money with him and where he finds no Langar, he takes food at hotels.
“I get lot of happiness in visiting the holy cave and I am not scared of anything nor did I ever felt any threat,” he claimed adding: “When Lord Shiva is there to take care of me, why should I feel fear of anything.”