Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: Over 7000 pilgrims drawn from different parts of the country today paid obeisance at holy cave of Baba Amarnath situated at an altitude of 3880 metres above sea level in snow bound Himalayas in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
According to officials 7320 pilgrims performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam by this evening at the holy cave from twin tracks of Baltal and Chandanwari. With this total number of pilgrims who performed darshan in the cave shrine since the annual yatra of Baba Amarnath commenced on June 30 this year has touched 2, 57, 921. It may be recalled that 2,50,601 pilgrims had performed darshan at holy cave till last night.
Officials said the weather was cloudy during the day in the yatra area and it rained continuously from one pm to 5 pm. However, the yatra passed smoothly along both tracks.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 3862 pilgrims drawn from different parts of the country left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here for holy cave early this morning under tight security measures in a cavalcade of 125 vehicles. Among them 2027 pilgrims preferred the traditional 48 kilometre long Nunwan Chandanwari track in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district while 1835 pilgrims preferred shortest 14 kilometre Baltal track in Ganderlab district of Central Kashmir.
These pilgrims will leave for their onwards sojourn from their respective base camps early tomorrow morning.
Officials said 3116 pilgrims were staying at Nunwan Base Camp during last night and 2919 pilgrims left from there to holy cave this morning. They said 873 pilgrims had night stay at Sheshnag Camp while 1201 pilgrims left from Sheshnag to holy cave today.
Officials said 55 pilgrims were having night stay at Chandanwari while 6376 pilgrims left for holy cave from there during the day.
Officials said 2000 pilgrims were staying at Baltal and all of them left for holy cave early this morning.
The 43 day long yatra will culminate on Swan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival falling on August 11 when holy mace of Lord Shiva from Dashnami Akhara Srinagar will reach the cave shrine.
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