SRINAGAR: A fresh batch of about 7,000 pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahlgam base camps early this morning for holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
So far, 62,608 pilgrims have paid obeisance and had darshan of the self-made ice Shivlingam till last evening since the commencement of the annual Yatra from June 29.
Large number of pilgrims, who had night halt at Panjterni on traditional route, have paid obeisance at the cave shrine since early this morning and more pilgrims are on way to holy cave.
A Yatra official said that over 7,000 pilgrims, including women and sadhus left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the holy cave early this morning. The Yatris had arrived at these base camp yesterday.
Amid chanting of ”Bam Bam Bholay and Har Har Mahadev”, a fresh batch of pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Baltal base camp in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal through shortest track for cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
The pilgrims are expected to reach the cave shrine this afternoon to pay obeisance before starting return journey later in the afternoon. However, some pilgrims would like to have night halt in the camp near the shrine.
Pilgrims who had also night halt at base camp near holy cave are on way back to Baltal base camp.
Similarly, a sixth batch of pilgrims left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional Yatra route.
The pilgrims who had night halt at Chandanwari and other halting station on traditional Pahalgam route have also started their onward journey towards the cave shrine early this morning.
Pilgrims who had night halt at Panjterni are on way to holy cave to have the darshan of the Ice Shivlingam, official sources said, adding many of them had paid obeisance there since this morning.
An official spokesperson said 15,813 pilgrims from different parts of the country paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine yesterday.
With this a total of 62,608 pilgrims had darshan of the ice Shivalingam in the first five days of the commencement of the annual pilgrimage from June 29 from both shortest Baltal and traditional Nunwan Phalgam tracks.
Majority of the pilgrims since have returned to their homes while others prefer to visit tourist places, including Pahalgam, Sonamarg, Gulmarg and Mughal gardens and Dal Lake in the city.
(AGENCIES)
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