Srinagar: Over 1.45 lakh devotees have so far performed the Amarnath Yatra during the last eight days as another batch of 6,482 pilgrims left for Kashmir from Jammu on Friday.
Officials said that since the Yatra started on July 3, so far over 1.45 lakh pilgrims had ‘darshan’ inside the holy cave shrine. “Another batch of 6,482 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys for the Valley today. First escorted convoy of 107 vehicles carrying 2,353 Yatris left at 3.20 a.m. for Baltal base camp, while the second escorted convoy of 161 vehicles carrying 4,129 Yatris left at 4.04 a.m. for Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp,” officials said.
Bhumi Pujan of ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (Lord Shiva’s Holy Mace) was performed at Pahalgam on Thursday.
The Chhari Mubarak was taken to Pahalgam by a group of Sadhus led by the sole custodian of the Chhari Mubarak, Mahant Swami Deependra Giri, from its seat at the Dashnami Akhara Building in Srinagar to Pahalgam.
In Pahalgam, the Chhari Mubarak was taken to the Gauri Shankar temple, where the Bhumi Pujan was held. Later, it was taken to the Martand Sun temple, where Puja was held, and the Chhari Mubarak had a dip in the holy spring at the Martand Sun Temple.
The Charri Mubarak will reach the holy cave shrine on August 9, when the Yatra will officially conclude.
In addition to the number of Yatris coming to the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, many Yatris are reporting directly at Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) for on-spot registration to join the Yatra.
Authorities have made extensive multi-tier security arrangements for this year’s Amarnath Yatra, as this takes place after the cowardly attack of April 22 in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 civilians after segregating them based on faith in the Baisaran meadow of Pahalgam.
An additional 180 companies of CAPFs have been brought in to augment the existing strength of the army, BSF, CRPF, SSB and the local police.
All the transit camps en route to the two base camps and the entire route from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu to the cave shrine are secured by the security forces.
This year, the Yatra started on July 3 and will end after 38 days on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
Yatris approach the holy cave shrine situated 3888 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas either from the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route.
Those using the Pahalgam route pass through Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni to reach the cave shrine, covering a distance of 46 km on foot. This trek takes a pilgrim four days to reach the cave shrine. And, those using the shorter Baltal route have to trek 14 km to reach the cave shrine and return to the base camp the same day after performing the Yatra. No helicopter services are available to Yatris this year due to security reasons.
The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva. Shri Amarnath ji Yatra is one of the holiest religious pilgrimages for the Hindu devotees, as legend says Lord Shiva narrated the secrets of eternal life and immortality to Mata Parvati inside this cave.
(IANS)
