SRINAGAR : Pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas is going on smoothly and at least 45,000 yatris had darshan of the self-made Ice-Shivlingam during the first four days despite rains lashing the hills.
Weather and tracks are good and a fresh batch of yatris, including women, children and sadhus, left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the holy cave, a yatra official told.
As many as 700 yatris who were stopped at Cave shrine, situated at 13,500 feet, after rain yesterday, were allowed to move towards base camp Baltal this morning. The yatris who had darshan at the cave shrine were not allowed to undertake the journey on foot yesterday after the rain to avoid any accident.
Yesterday, 13,936 had paid obeisance at the holy cave, he said, adding that with this, a total of 44,673 pilgrims had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam during the first four days of the 59-day-long yatra which commenced from July 2.
The official said fresh batch of pilgrims, including women, sadhus and children left Batlal base camp for the Cave shrine shortly after the Muslim service providers completed their Sahari, meals before starting the fast early this morning.
The pilgrims will have to cover the 14-km-long track on foot before reaching the cave today. Pilgrims who had night halt at the cave shrine after having darshan yesterday, have also started their return journey through this shortest route. Similarly a fresh batch of yatris left for Chandandwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional 45-km-long track early this morning. Though some of the pilgrims will stay at Chandanwari, others will start their foot journey towards the next halting station on the track, which is still under snow at several places.
Meanwhile, majority yatris who had returned after darshan have left for their homes while some preferred to visit tourist spots in the valley. (AGENCIES)
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