SRINAGAR : Yatra was today resumed on traditional Pahalgam track after remaining suspended since July 12,the pilgrimage is progressing smoothly on shortest Baltal track to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
So far over 1.68 lakh pilgrims, including women, children and sadhus have had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam in the cave shrine at 13000 feet since the commencement of the 48-day-long pilgrimage from July 2.
Meanwhile, traditional rituals silver Mace of Lord Shiva ” Charri-Mubarak” associated with annual Amarnath pilgrimage will start from Tuesday at Pahalgam.
Official sources said that yatra from Pahalgam track would resume today .Earlier, due to the security reasons, all the pilgrims coming from Jammu were being taken directly to Baltal base camp in the central Kashmir district of Ganderbal as there were massive protests on Anantnag-Nunwan Pahalgam base camp.
Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh said that fortunately there was not a single report about any attack on Amarnath yatris or minorities living in different parts of he valley since the eruption of violence.
A yatra official said that 3236 pilgrims, including women and sadhus who left Jammu in 108 vehicles yesterday in the afternoon have reached Kashmir valley early this morning.
A number of yatris have decided to continue their onward journey from Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camp towards the cave shrine. About 1000 pilgrims left Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional track early this morning by 0800 hrs. After night halt at Chandanwari, the pilgrims will start their onward journey towards the cave shrine early in the morning tomorrow.
Over 500 pilgrims, including women and sadhus left Baltal base camp early this morning for the cave shrine. The pilgrims are likely to reach the cave in the afternoon after covering the hilly terrain of about 14 km to pay obeisance there.
The exact number of yatris will be known at 1100 hrs when the gates will be closed on both tracks.
Meanwhile, about 3900 pilgrims who had darshan at the cave shrine yesterday and early this morning have started their return journey towards Baltal base camp.
The age old traditional rituals of chhari-Mubarak, Silver Mace of Lord Shiva will start from from July 19 at Pahalgam, about 100 km from here in south Kashmir, Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of the Chhari-Mubarak said.
He said as per the age old tradition, rituals ‘Bhoomi-Pujan’, ‘Navgrah Pujan’ and ‘Dhawajarohan’ connected with commencement of annual Chhari-Mubarak Yatra shall be performed at Pahalgam on auspicious occasion of ‘Ashad-Purnima’ (Vyas-Purnima) that falls on July 19 this year. (agencies)
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