SRINAGAR : The annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalyas was going on smoothly as fresh batchs of 10000 yatris left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam early this morning despite partly cloudy sky. A record five lakh pilgrims, including women, children and sadhus from all over the country had darshan of the self- made holy Ice-Shivlingam since the commencement of the 46-day-long pilgrimage from June 29.
The yatra will conclude on August 13 when the Chharri-Mubarak, Holy Mace of Lord Shiva, will be taken inside the cave shrine on Rakshabandan. Yatra officials said that about 5000 pilgrims each left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps early this morning.
Those who left through shortest Baltal route will reach the cave shrine this afternoon while who left Nunwan Pahalgam will have night halt at Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditonal route. They said the pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting stations on the traditional route also started their onward journey towards the holy Shrine this morning.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) R K Goyal has said that as per the Met department’s weather forecast it would be partly cloudy today and tomorrow. There would be possibility of light rain on July 23 and light rain or thundershower on July 24, in the Kashmir Division. Mr Goyal has advised all those who intend to visit the Holy Cave to check weather conditions in the Yatra area before embarking on the pilgrimage.
The CEO has once again appealed to all those who intend to undertake the pilgrimage to the Holy Cave to obtain a Yatra Permit before embarking on the pilgrimage to avoid inconvenience on arrival in the state. He reiterated that the pilgrims must embark on the Yatra strictly as per the dates and the routes specified in their Yatra permits, clarifying that instructions had been issued to ensure against any unregistered Yatri being allowed to proceed towards the Holy Cave, under any circumstances.
Mr Goyal also urged all intending pilgrims to have themselves medically examined and any one with an orthopaedic problem, chest or lung ailment or any cardiac deficiency must not undertake the arduous Yatra, involving trekking upto 14,000 feet. He regretted that despite advisories having been repeatedly issued through media during past several months, a substantial number of Yatris with cardiac ailments travelled and lost their lives. (AGENCIES)
(http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/ 21.07.2011)
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