Jammu: Even as 4,383 additional pilgrims departed for the Kashmir valley on Thursday, almost 3.5 lakh worshippers had already received “Darshan” within the Amarnath cave sanctum in the previous 19 days.
The yearly pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine, located in the Anantnag region of Jammu and Kashmir, has been proceeding without incident. The police and CAPF have provided security on the Yatra route, at base camps, and along both of the Yatra paths in the approaches from south and north Kashmir.
The ongoing Yatra to Amarnath began on June 29. According to officials, 13,000 pilgrims received Darshan inside the cave temple on Wednesday.
“Another batch of 4,383 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in two escorted convoys for the valley today. Of these, the first escorted convoy carrying 1,701 Yatris in 66 vehicles, left at 3.14 a.m. for north Kashmir’s Baltal base camp,” said officials of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) that manages the affairs of the annual Yatra. SASB is headed by J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.
“Second escorted convoy carrying 2,682 Yatris in 91 vehicles left at 4 a.m. for south Kashmir’s Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp,” they added.
An ice stalagmite that changes colour according to the moon’s phases is kept at the cave shrine. Devotees consider this ice stalagmite structure a sign of Lord Shiva’s mythological powers.
The cave is located 3,888 meters above sea level in Kashmir. Devotees use the ancient routes from north Kashmir (Baltal) or south Kashmir (Pahalgam) to reach the cave shrine.
It takes four to five days for pilgrims to travel the 48-kilometers Pahalgam-cave shrine axis. The pilgrims must travel 14 km along the Baltal-cave shrine axis in one day to complete their “Darshan” and return to the base camp.
In two protected convoys, 4,434 Yatris departed Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu on Thursday to head into the valley.
At 3 a.m., the first escorted convoy to Baltal base camp consisted of 1,721 pilgrims in 64 vehicles. At 3.35 a.m., the second escorted convoy for Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp departed, comprising 2,713 pilgrims in 101 cars.
After 52 days, this year’s Yatra will end on August 29, which also happens to be Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan celebrations.
