Sara Ali Khan also performs darshan
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 20: On the 20th day of yatra, over 8000 pilgrims performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva in 3888 metre high cave shrine in deep Himalayas of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district today.
According to officials, celebrity Sara Ali Khan also visited the cave shrine and paid obeisance there today. They said 8574 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam taking total number of pilgrims who visited the holy shrine since the 62-day yatra started on July 1 to 2,93,703.
Among the pilgrims who paid obeisance at cave shrine today included 6395 male, 1903 female, 151 children, 119 Sadhus, one Sadhvi and five transgender.
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Among the yatris who performed darshan of Ice Lingam today included Bollywood actress, Sara Ali Khan daughter of Saif Ali Khan and Amrita Singh. A video on social media showing Sara Ali Khan along with some friends and escorted by the security forces visited the cave shrine of Amaranth Ji today.
The actress was wearing a grey trek suit and a “Chunari”, hanging with her neck carrying a long stick in her right hand and left hand held by her friend coming down the stairs somewhere near the holy cave.
Sara, undertook the yatra from Baltal Axis today, officials said. On Wednesday, the actress visited Sonamarg resort, on the way to Baltal base camp in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and enjoyed the breathtaking views of Thajwas glacier.
The officials said the actress also visited the Martand Sun temple in South Kashmir district of Anantnag before embarking on the yatra.
Officials said the weather on entire yatra area was partially cloudy during the day and yatra went on smoothly on both the tracks. The chopper services also plied normally during the day for ferrying the pilgrims to and fro, they added.
Among over 2.93 lakh pilgrims who performed darshan at Himalayan cave in last 20 days, majority had returned to their home states while others are on their way.
Officials said the 2,566 pilgrims of Nunwan-Pahalgam track who were stopped at Chanderkot Yatri Niwas in Ramban district yesterday due to landslides on Jammu -Srinagar National Highway after heavy rains lashed the Jammu region left for their onwards sojourn early this morning.
Meanwhile, the 18th batch of 6523 pilgrims left for twin base camps of Nunwan Pahalgam in Anantnag district of South Kashmir and Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir early this morning under tight security measures in a cavalcade of 262 vehicles.
Among them 3746 pilgrims preferred the traditional Nunwan Pahalgam -track while 2777 preferred shortest but terrain Baltal track. They included 4775 male,1685 female, three children ,81 Sadhus and nine Sadhvis, officials said.
The pilgrims visiting the holy cave are in a jubilant mood and they were highly appreciative of Shrine Board and local administration for the arrangements. Mohit, a pilgrim from Ahmedabad Gujarat who had come for darshan of holy cave along with his family was all praise for the arrangements. He said that the yatris didn’t face any problem in visiting holy cave as the officials on duty including the security forces and local police are rendering all assistance and cooperation to them.
The 62 day yatra will culminate on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival falling on August 31. Religious scholars attach lot of importance to this year’s annual yatra because of occurrence of two Shravan months in the Hindu Calendar year this time.
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