2.8 lakh devotees undertake Amarnath yatra in fortnight

Jammu, July 13

Over 2.80 lakh devotees had ‘darshan’ inside the holy cave shrine during the last 14 days as another batch of 4,669 yatris left for the Valley on Saturday.

Officials of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) headed by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, that manages the affairs of the yatra, said that over 2.80 lakh devotees performed the yatra since it started on June 29.

“Another batch of 4,669 yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys for the Valley on Saturday. Of these, 1,630 yatris are going in an escorted convoy of 74 vehicles to north Kashmir Baltal base camp. They left Jammu at 3.05 am. Another group of 3,039 yatris left in another escorted convoy of 109 vehicles at 3.57 am for south Kashmir Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp”, officials said.

Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir Police have beefed up the security for this year’s pilgrimage following the recent terror attacks. Unprecedented security measures, including electronic surveillance along the entire Yatra route and access control, have been put in place.

This comes against the backdrop of the recent terror attacks in the Jammu region, including the terror attack on the Army convoy in Kathua and encounters in Doda and Udhampur, which are in the Jammu region.

The security for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, especially around the Jammu base camp of the Amarnath Yatra and the National Highway, has increased. Security forces are also using CCTV cameras to keep a vigil on the movement. Amarnath Yatra pilgrims are arriving in huge numbers at the Jammu base camp and they say they are happy with the security arrangements.

Recently, Inspector General of Police of Kashmir, VK Birdi, convened a crucial coordination and security meeting at Nunwan Base Camp to work in close coordination to ensure a safe and secure Amarnath Yatra.

The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that this ice stalagmite structure symbolises mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

The cave is situated at an altitude of 3,888 metres above the sea-level in Kashmir Himalayas. Devotees approach the cave shrine either from the traditional south Kashmir Pahalgam route or the north Kashmir Baltal route. The Pahalgam-cave shrine axis is 48 kms long and it takes yatris four to five days to reach the shrine.

The Baltal-Cave shrine axis is 14 kms long and it takes one day for the pilgrims to have ‘darshan’ and return to the base camp.

This year’s Yatra will conclude after 52 days on August 29 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.