SRINAGAR : Pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas continued from Baltal route, while decision to start the yatra from traditional Pahalgam will be taken tomorrow after reviewing the ground position and other relevant factors on the track.
Though strict instructions have been issued not to allow any unregistered yatri, the authorities have set up a number of counters for on-spot registration of pilgrims undertaking the yatra.
This facility is available only for yatris undertaking the yatra from Baltal route while it will be introduced later for Pahalgam also.
Official sources said about 9,000 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, have the darshan of self-made ice-shivlingam in the shrine on the first day of the two-month-long yatra yesterday. The yatris expressed satisfaction over the widening of track and other facilities.
Majority of the yatris had since returned to Baltal base camp after the darshan, they said, adding that Governor N N Vohra, who is chairman of the Shri Amarnth Shrine Board (SASB), also offered puja at the shrine yesterday.
Sources said shouting Bam Bam Bolay and other religious slogans, pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left for the cave shrine from Baltal base camp early this morning. The pilgrims will have to cover 14 km hilly track to reach the cave shrine.
However, the yatra could not be started from traditional Pahalgam route as the track from Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station, to Sheshnag was still not safe for journey. The SASB has announced that pilgrims who have registered themselves from Pahalgam route can also undertake the pilgrimage from Baltal till tomorrow.
SASB CEO R K Gupta said after reviewing the ground position and other relevant factors, the District Administration and Tourism authorities at Jammu and Srinagar have been directed to allow On-Spot registration for pilgrims undertaking the Yatra via the Baltal route.
Consequent to this decision, on-spot registration counters have started functioning at Vaishnavi Dham, Saraswati Dham, Jammu Haat and Ram Mandir in Jammu and at Tourist Reception Centre (TRC), Nowgam in Srinagar from yesterday. However, on-spot registration for pilgrims undertaking Yatra via the Pahalgam route will remain suspended till tomorrow, when a high-level meeting will be held regarding the opening of the Chandanwari route.
(AGENCIES)
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