No yatra along Pahalgam axis due to repairs
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, Aug 6: With 2800 pilgrims performing darshan at holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji in deep Himalayas of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district today, the number of yatris visiting holy cave in last 39 days of pilgrimage has crossed five lakh while a fresh batch of 1873 Yatris drawn from different parts of the country left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas early this morning for Kashmir valley in a cavalcade of 69 light and heavy motor vehicles under tight security measures.
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Officials said that 39th batch of 2813 pilgrims paying obeisance at Himalayan cave from twin base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal-Sonamarg besides special chopper services by this evening a total number of 5,00,105 pilgrims visited the cave shrine since 52-day long annual yatra started on June 29 this year.
Officials said all these pilgrims who performed darshan at holy cave today started their return journey towards Baltal base camp.
Meanwhile, in view of maintenance works required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of Shri Amarnathji Yatra following the recent rains, the track will be closed for pilgrimage and the yatra will continue through Baltal Axis. Click here to watch video
This was stated by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) in a statement issued here, today.
“Due to the recent rains, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. The Yatra shall continue from the Baltal axis”, the SASB.
Yatra shall continue smoothly through the Baltal Axis for which adequate arrangements have been ensured, the SASB further said.
Among the 1873 pilgrims who left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here for Kashmir valley this morning included 1579 males, 202 females, 65 Sadhus and 27 Sadhvis.
These Yatris have reached their destination by this evening where from they will leave for cave shrine early tomorrow morning. It may be recalled that the pilgrims were not allowed from here to twin base camps of Kashmir valley yesterday in view of observance of fifth anniversary of abrogation of Article 370 as a precautionary measure by the authorities. After closure for one day, the Yatra resumed this morning from here.
The 52 -day long annual Yatra of Shri Amarnath Ji will culminate on Saravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival on August 19 after the Chhari Mubarak (holy mace of Lord Shiva) led by its sole custodian, Mahant Deependra Giri Ji will reach cave shrine for traditional Puja and darshan from its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.
The holy mace which was taken to historic Shankaracharya temple and Sharika Bhagwati temple in Srinagar on August 4 and 5 respectively for performance of age old rituals will leave for last leg of Yatra from Dashnami Akhara Srinagar on August 14 morning. It will reach Pahalgam same day after paying obeisance at different temples right from Srinagar to Pahalgam including Sun temple of Martand (Mattan) in Anantnag district enroute.
The holy mace will have haltage for two nights at Pahalgam and on August 16 it will leave for Chandanwari in the afternoon. On August 17 it will leave for Sheshnag while on August 18 it will start for Panchtarni, the last haltage point on way to Himalayan cave wherefrom it will leave for holy cave in the wee hours of August 19 i.e Shravan Purnima. After day long Puja Archana at cave shrine, the holy mace will leave for Panchtarni on the same day in the evening and with a night halt at Panchtarni it will leave for Pahalgam next day morning.
Before leaving for holy cave, Chhari Sathapana will be performed at Dashnami Akhara Srinagar tomorrow and Chhari Pujan will be performed by Mahant Ji, Sadhus and other devotees at Dashnami Akhara on August 9.
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