Over 2.10 lakh pilgrims pay obeisance at Amarnath shrine

SRINAGAR : Fresh batches of pilgrims today left for holy Amarnath Cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where so far over 2.10 lakh had paid obeisance since the commencement of the 48-day-long annual pilgrimage from July 2.
Weather was pleasant and pilgrimage was going on smoothly though the number of yatris has dropped now, a yatra official said.
Over 200 pilgrims had darshan at the cave shrine since early this morning. He said 1,546 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, paid obeisance at the cave shrine yesterday. With this, a total of 2,10,179 yatris had darshan so far, he said, adding that majority of the pilgrims had since returned to their homes.
The official said fresh batch of pilgrims today left Baltal base camp for the cave shrine early this morning. The pilgrims are likely to reach the cave shrine later this afternoon after covering the hilly terrain on foot. Pilgrims, who had darshan at the cave shrine yesterday and stayed there, have also started their return journey for Baltal base camp early this morning.
Bum Bum Bholay and Har Har Mahadev rented in the air as fresh batch of pilgrims left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp early this morning, he said, adding that the pilgrims will have night stay at Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station before starting journey to next halting station tomorrow morning.
Similarly, pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting stations on traditional Pahalgam route, have also started their onward journey towards the cave shrine this morning. (AGENCIES)