Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Jan 20: Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) today announced that annual pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath ji would this year last 44 days beginning June 28 and concluding on August 10 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
A decision on duration on Shri Amarnath ji pilgrimage, which every year generates controversy over its period, was taken at the meeting of the SASB held in New Delhi today under the chairmanship of Governor NN Vohra in New Delhi.
A total of 6.60 lakh pilgrims would be registered for this year’s pilgrimage i.e. a total of 15,000 per day from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal (7500 from each route everyday), official sources said.
Last year, the pilgrimage had started on June 27 and lasted 55 days till August 21.
The duration of pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir Himalayas generates controversy every year with several political, social and religious organisations stressing on two month long yatra.
Sources said the SASB would shortly finalise other modalities for the pilgrimage including registration, food menu, issuance of registration certificates etc.
The registration would start on March 1, sources said.
They added that registration of 15,000 pilgrims per day for the twin routes would be apart from the yatris, who would undertake pilgrimage to the cave shrine via helicopters from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
Governor N N Vohra, who also happened to be the Chairman of the SASB, presided over 26th meeting of the Board in the Union capital.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Dr Kapila Vatsyayan, Justice (Retd) GD Sharma, Pandit Bhajan Sopori, Vijay Dhar and Dr (Prof) Ved Kumari Ghai, all members of the Board attended the meeting apart from Navin Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer and Preet Pal Singh, Additional CEO of the Shrine Board.
Regarding the duration and commencement of Yatra 2014, the Board relied upon the approach set out by the Board’s Sub Committee, chaired by Ravi Shankar, which had been set up in July 2011 to advise the Board regarding the duration and schedule of future Yatras.
The Board directed that the CEO SASB would arrange a special pooja on the day of Jyesth Purnima, which falls on June 13 this year. This pooja shall, if possible, take place at the holy cave or any other suitable location in the Yatra area to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva for the smooth and safe conduct of the pilgrimage.
The Board directed the CEO to publicise, at frequent intervals, that for securing regulation for the Yatra, the intending Yatris must furnish the prescribed Compulsory Health Certificate issued by the authorised Doctors/ Medical Institutes. The CEO informed that all States and UTs have been asked to furnish a list of Doctors/ Institutes who would issue Compulsory Health Certificates to the medically fit Yatris of the State/ UT.
The Board further directed the CEO to compile State-wise lists of the nominated Doctors/ Institutes and upload the information on the Board’s website – www.shriamarnathjishrine.com – for the information of all intending Yatris.
The Board asked the CEO to intensively publicize, through print and electronic media, the registration procedure; requirement of Compulsory Health Certificate to obtain registration; details of Doctors/ Institutes authorized to issue Compulsory Health Certificates, Do’s and Don’ts to be followed by the Yatris during the course of Yatra and Health Advisories to prevent Yatris from getting afflicted with serious illnesses.
The CEO informed the Board that in view of suggestions received from various quarters and the experience gained during Yatra 2013, the designated Expert Committee had revised the 2013 Food Menu. The CEO stated that this year the revised Food Menu will be applicable to all Langar Organizations as well as to all Food Stalls/ Shops/ any other establishment which comes up in the Yatra area to serve/ sell food or beverages to the Yatris/ service providers during Yatra 2014.
The Board reviewed the Action Plan, which has been drawn up for the conduct of Yatra 2014, particularly the arrangements being made for providing healthcare and sanitation facilities to the Yatris and the measures being taken to preserve the environment of the Yatra area.
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