Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 5: With 13, 936 pilgrims paying obeisance at holy cave of Swami Amarnath on fourth day of darshan today, the two -month long Amarnath yatra which started from here on July 1 has picked up considerably.
According to an official spokesman, 13,936 pilgrims drawn from different parts of country paid obeisance at cave shrine today. With this, the total number of pilgrims performing darshan at holy cave in deep Himalayas of South Kashmir has touched 44,673 in last four days.
The spokesman said to the jubilation of yatris, the naturally formed Shivlingam in holy cave is about 10 feet in height and this gives much solace to the pilgrims performing darshan in cave shrine daily.
Meanwhile, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) authorities have decided to increase the on spot registration quota in view of the heavy rush of pilgrims. According to Dr Piyush Singla, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Jammu who is also the Nodal Officer for Yatra , the Shrine Board has in principle agreed to enhance the on spot registration quota in view of heavy influx of pilgrims in Jammu from other parts of country. The quota will be increased within one or two days, he added.
The SASB in a handout issued here today said that 4100 slots were released by the CEO of the Board for on spot registration at various registration counters on Sunday for the yatra on July 7. Further 4550 number of slots will be available at various counters on July 6 for yatra on July 8 from two access control gates at Baltal and Chandanwari. These slots are available on first come first serve basis, the handout added.
The pilgrims who are continuously going for darshan from several years said that the arrangements are far better this time in comparison to previous years and yatris are performing hassle free darshan. Dharma Paul, a pilgrim from UP who reached here after performing darshan at holy cave along with his family said that pilgrims are fully satisfied with the arrangements this time.
Paul, who performed darshan in cave shrine for seventh consecutive term this year, said he has not seen such arrangements in past.
There is complete hustle and bustle at twin base camps of Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal near Sonamarg with thousands of yatris reaching there from rest of the country to leave for darshan of Ice Lingam daily.
The spokesman of the Board said that 5943 pilgrims left Baltal for holy cave today while 880 pilgrims left by air. He said 5478 pilgrims reached Baltal after darshan from holy cave by this evening while 8028 pilgrims left from Baltal to Srinagar by 3pm. He said 5797 pilgrims left from traditional Pahalgam Chandanwari track from Nunwan base camp for yatra this morning and thousands of pilgrims have reached Baltal and Nunwan base camps by this evening to leave for darshan tomorrow.
The spokesman said the weather from Baltal to track was partially cloudy while it was pleasant at Pahalgam and Nunwan.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 2219 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for holy cave this morning under tight security measures in a cavalcade of 76 vehicles. They included 1554 male, 488 female, 27 children and 148 sadhus. These pilgrims had crossed Jawahar Tunnel by the evening and were on their way to twin base camps of Nunwan and Baltal where from they will leave for holy cave early in the morning tomorrow.
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